A punch thrown by a “big powerful rugby player” had such force that the brain of his victim bounced from side to side inside the skull and only surgery at University Hospital Cork saved his life, a court heard.

Two Limerick men, whose assault on a Cork financial adviser left him in a coma and fighting for his life, walked free from court yesterday after paying €30,000 compensation.

The family of a Co Cork financial adviser was told he might never come out of a coma and, if he did, might remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life as a result of an unprovoked assault when out socialising with his girlfriend, a court heard.