Man cleared of glass attack on tourist at festival

A man has been acquitted of assaulting a tourist who was partially blinded by flying glass in Co Offaly last year.

Gary Ward, aged 20, of Scurragh, Birr had denied charges of assault causing harm, recklessly causing serious harm and production of an article at Keel’s Arch in Birr on August 4, 2013.

At a sitting of Tullamore Circuit Court yesterday, a jury deliberated for almost three hours before finding Mr Ward not guilty on all of the charges.

Canadian resident and Birr native, Marie Gauvin, aged 59, was on holidays when she was struck by glass during Birr Vintage Week last summer.

She was an innocent bystander who had sheltered from rain in an archway when glass was thrown during a disturbance. It struck her right eye causing massive damage

“I will never see again, the damage is too horrific to be repaired. My eye keeps receding because of lack of use,” Mrs Gauvin told the trial.

The prosecution had maintained Mr Ward and Darragh Daly had fought in Keel’s Arch on the night in question. They alleged Mr Ward had thrown a glass at Mr Daly as he walked from the scuffle. The accusation was repeatedly denied by Mr Ward.

Describing it as a tragic case for Mrs Gauvin, Judge Anthony Hunt gave jurors a six-year exemption from jury service. Although there was a “difficult and horrible” background to the case, he thanked the jury for not letting their hearts rule their heads.