Attacker gives soldier €3,000 after Youghal stabbing

A MEMBER of the Irish Army who was permanently scarred after he was stabbed in the neck in Youghal has been compensated with €3,000 by his attacker.

Stephen Ring, 27, previously from Gort Aoibhinn, Youghal, Co Cork, was given a four-year suspended jail sentence by Judge Patrick J Moran at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Ring pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Graham Gillman at O’Brien’s Place, Youghal, Co Cork, in November 2009.

Garda Ian Brown said Mr Gillman, who is a member of the army, had to get 13 stitches to a neck wound.

Garda Brown said: “He is going to have a scar for life on his neck, three or four inches long and above the collar line.

“He feels that this is affecting his social life. He is very conscious of the scar on his neck and very conscious of people staring at him. It is visible as it is just below the jaw line.”

The incident occurred on the night of November 8, 2009, after Ring had an altercation with another man.

Mr Gillman knew the second man and intervened, removing him from the scene and putting him in a taxi. However, when he turned around Ring stabbed him.

Ring has since moved out of Youghal. He brought €3,000 to court as a gesture of compensation to the injured party.

Defence barrister Donal O’Sullivan said: “My client’s problem is that at the time he was after taking a very large quantity of drink and drugs. It was a very serious incident but he has done everything he could to address his problem.

“He left Youghal the following day and has not gone back, other than to talk to gardaí about this case. This (the €3,000) is a very serious gesture for him.”