A heroin addict who bit off part of a man's ear has been jailed for two years by Judge Elizabeth Dunne at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michael Ward (20), from Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr David McCormack on Exchequer Street on March 3rd, 1999. He had been at large at the time having failed to return to Wheatfield Prison from temporary release.
The court heard Mr McCormack was in a pub with a friend when he saw two people trying to get into his friend's car. When both men went to the car Ward became aggressive. Mr McCormack and his friend walked away but Ward grabbed him and started beating him. During the scuffle he bit Mr McCormack.
Judge Dunne said Ward had committed an act of "particular savagery". She did not backdate his sentence to the time of his arrest as he had been at large when he committed the crime.