A hackney driver who smashed a glass into the face of another man during a disco brawl in Howth has received a 12-month suspended sentence from Judge Elizabeth Dunne at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Stuart Kay (43), from Bayside Walk, Sutton, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Richard Flood at the K2 Disco in Howth on December 29th, 1998.
Kay gave £2,500 to Mr Flood as an offer of remorse. The court heard Mr Flood had to have plastic surgery after the incident. The court heard an argument over a stool broke out in the disco when a man from Kay's party tried to push a man from Mr Flood's group over railings separating the bar from the dance floor.
Mr Flood intervened to try to help his friend, but Kay, who had not been involved in the altercation up to then, picked up a glass and pushed it into Mr Flood's face.
Mr Luigi Rea BL, defending, said his client had an unblemished record up to this and was anxious to continue his job as a hackney driver.
Judge Dunne said that Mr Flood had not been involved in any activity that warranted Kay's assault but she was satisfied she did not need to impose a custodial sentence.