Victim glassed ‘for no apparent reason’

A MEATH man has been sentenced to eight years for glassing a man in a nightclub “for no apparent reason”, causing him to lose sight in one eye.

Mark McGeough, aged 36, hit the victim with a glass because he thought he was fighting with his friend.

Judge Martin Nolan noted the victim suffered “catastrophic” damage and subsequently had to leave his job as a van driver because of the injuries.

Judge Nolan suspended the final four years of the sentence, claiming he was initially thinking of a much longer sentence but reconsidered because of McGeough’s remorse and offer of €30,000 compensation.

Judge Nolan said he considers McGeough “completely rehabilitated” but that a sentence must be imposed. He said McGeough assaulted his victim for “no apparent reason” and must have known serious injury was a possibility.

McGeough, of Rath-lodge, Ashbourne, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm to Declan Gallagher at Velvet Nightclub, Swords, on August 31, 2009.

Garda Keith Delaney told Michael Bowman, prosecuting, that Mr Gallagher was in the nightclub when there was an altercation among a group. McGeough got involved, thinking Mr Gallagher had hit his friend, and responded by hitting him in the eye area with a glass.

McGeough fled the scene, claiming later he “wanted to avoid further confrontation”. Mr Gallagher was rushed to hospital where attempts were made to save the eye.

A medical report stated he will never regain sight in the eye, will be permanently disfigured and may lose the eye at a later stage.

Conor Devally, defending, said McGeough had neither been on a night out nor consumed alcohol for a year at the time of the incident. He said he has two children with his partner.