Man, 19, charged after tourist assault

A 19-year-old man has been charged with assault causing harm to an Irish-Canadian woman who was visiting Ireland as part of the Gathering earlier this month.

Portlaoise District Court was informed that Gary Ward, of Scurragh, Birr, Co Offaly, replied “it still wasn’t me” when he was charged with assaulting Marie Gauvin, 58, at Keel’s Arch, Birr, on Aug 4.

Ms Gauvin suffered serious eye injuries requiring 23 stitches and she lost the sight in her right eye after she was struck by a beer bottle.