A court heard a 23-year-old Ennis man was handed back his missing left ear by another man after it had been fully bitten off during the course of a row two years ago.
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Gary Browne said: "William Fox came up to me and said, 'I'm very, very sorry, I should get you to hospital' and he handed me back my ear and I'm very thankful to William Fox for that."
Mr Browne said Clinton Keane (24), Castlewood Park, Ennis, chewed off his ear as he was facing the ground, while an unidentified man kicked him in the face and another unidentified man sat on his back during a row in Market Square, Ennis, in the early hours of March 18th, 2005. Keane pleaded not guilty to the assault charge.
However, after Mr Browne gave evidence in relation to the attack, Keane was re-arraigned after lunch and he pleaded guilty to the assault.
Christopher Dobbin (24), John Paul Avenue, denies assaulting Mr Browne; while William Fox (24), Hermitage; Scott Hennessy (19), Waterpark; and Michael McCarthy (25), Watery Road - all of Ennis - deny a charge of violent disorder. Keane also denies the violent disorder charge.
Mr Browne said that after getting off the ground with Clinton Keane, "I didn't realise my ear was gone."
Mr Browne said that after walking away from the row with his ear in his hand, he was approached and headbutted by Christopher Dobbin.
He said: "I was practically bleeding to death. I fought for my life." Mr Browne said he was transferred to hospital in Galway, where his ear was successfully reattached.
Mr Browne told the court he underwent nine hours' surgery to reattach his ear and spent a further two weeks lying on his side with leeches on his face and ear.
The trial continues today.