A LIMERICK man was jailed for three years yesterday for what a judge described as an appalling crime which could have resulted in him facing a murder charge.
At Kerry Criminal Circuit Court in Tralee, Richard Desmond (27), of Woodlawn, Killarney, pleaded guilty to assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, of Mr Eamon Flood, on August 6th, 1995, at Ballybunion, and to the common assault of Mr Greg Bramble on the same day. Judge Kevin O'Higgins sentenced Desmond to three months, to run concurrently, for the second offence.
Mr John Edwards BL, prosecuting, said Mr Flood was a native of Dublin holidaying in Ballybunion. He went with three friends to a disco. All four went for a walk on the beach and then sat on steps, where Mr Flood lit a cigarette.
Nearby were a man and woman. The woman approached Mr Flood, asking for a cigarette, and after he offered her one, he was without warning struck by Desmond with a bottle. Mr Flood suffered a severe cut to the neck, needing 17 stitches, three stitches to two other cuts and further stitches to the scalp.
Desmond then turned on Mr Flood's companion, Mr Bramble, but he succeeded in getting away.
Mr Edwards said Desmond was most un co-operative with investigating gardai, being abusive and telling them they would never, prove a case.
Sgt Kieran O'Connell Ballybunion, said Desmond was now serving a three-year sentence in Limerick from last year and had previous convictions for assaults. Mr Flood had made a full recovery but had a large scar from the back of his head.
Ms Ann Watkins BL, for Desmond, said her client was married and had three children. He had a drink and drugs problem and was under a lot of pressure facing a jail sentence. He had been in trouble since he was 16.
Judge O'Higgins said the least, he could impose was three years.