AN ACTOR has received a four-year sentence for an assault on a victim who subsequently died after developing a blood clot on his brain. Darren Healy (29), The Cottage, Killegar, Enniskerry, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last year to assaulting Philip Bryan causing him harm at Eamon Doran's Pub in Temple Bar on June 10th, 2005.
Judge Patricia Ryan heard that doctors had not been able to establish if the blood clot had been caused by Healy's assault on Mr Bryan or by his subsequent fall when he hit his head on a step.
Judge Ryan extended her sympathies to the Bryan family on their loss. She imposed a four-year sentence on Healy and suspended the final year on conditions. The maximum sentence for this offence is five years.
Judge Ryan consented to an application by defence counsel, Bernard Condon, to postpone the commencement of the sentence until January 20th, 2009. She ordered Healy to present himself at Pearse Street Garda station on that day to be taken into custody.
Judge Ryan noted that Healy had taken steps to rehabilitate his "chaotic lifestyle" and had paid over €5,000 compensation as a "practical expression of his remorse".
Healy has appeared in such TV series as The Clinic, Love Is the Drug, Proofand On Home Groundas well as bit parts in films such as Layer Cake, Dead Bodies, The Generaland Bloody Sunday.
Det Garda Paul Murphy told Garnet Orange, prosecuting, that Healy was standing on stools in Eamon Dorans shaking and squirting bottles of "alcopop" over a crowd of friends when Mr Bryan went over and appeared to try to calm him down in an amicable exchange. A witness described turning away from the men and then hearing a smack before she turned back around and saw Healy punch Mr Bryan twice in the face. Mr Bryan then fell to the ground hitting his head.
He was taken to hospital for treatment but discharged himself and returned home. He was taken back to hospital the following day and treated for a blood clot on his brain after his mother found him unconscious.
Det Garda Murphy said Healy contacted gardaí and voluntarily made a statement. He had eight previous convictions for public order offences.
Healy told gardaí Mr Bryan had approached him looking for a fight while he was having "craic" with friends. He said he left the pub after they exchanged blows and that he was glad Mr Bryan had recovered. Mr Condon said if Mr Bryan had not hit his head this could have been "a standard punch up". He said his client had never intended to cause such injuries and noted that when he discovered the extent of the harm caused he immediately contacted gardaí.