A man who bit off a large portion of another man's ear after drinking Red Bulland vodka has been given a two years suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gavin Walsh of Lealand Avenue, Clondalkin is also to pay £10,000 compensation to his victim, and a further £2,000 to a second man he headbutted and knocked unconscious on the same occasion.
Walsh, a 27-year-old self-employed courier, pleaded guilty to assaulting both men causing them harm on July 11th, 1999.
Garda Chris Carroll told prosecuting counsel Mr Feargal Kavanagh BL that Walsh had been at a party that night and had a row with his girlfriend on the way home.
The two victims thought the girl was being hassled and a row broke out with Walsh when they intervened. Walsh was arrested at the scene and claimed he had acted in self-defence.
Garda Carroll said Walsh had no previous convictions and had never come to garda attention previously. He made a statement admitting all that happened and said he had been at a party where he drank almost a bottle of vodka as well as "Red Bull".
Judge Patrick McCartan said he richly deserved imprisonment and had learned a very valuable lesson. If he came before the courts again he could not expect to get another suspended sentence.