Man walks free after jury finds he bit off part of friend’s ear in self-defence

A JURY yesterday delivered a unanimous not guilty verdict in a case where a west Clare man pleaded self-defence when biting off part of a friend’s ear.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Patrick O’Neill, 30, of Tullagher, Moyasta, Kilrush, Co Clare, walked free from court after the jury delivered the verdict after deliberating for less than 90 minutes.

In the case, counsel for O’Neill, Lorcan Connolly BL, said his client had bitten part of the ear off his friend Eddie Earls “in an act of self-defence”.