Assault victim doesn’t want jail for attacker

A student who suffered brain injuries and required 41 stitches to the head after an assault on Grafton St, Dublin, has told a court he does not want his attacker to go to prison.

Declan McGowan, aged 24, was convicted of assault causing harm to Thomas Carter last February but acquitted of the more serious charge of assault causing serious harm.

Mr Carter required brain surgery and suffered from bleeding within the skull after being punched and his head hitting the ground.