Man slashed with glass during row over pints

A man who struck another man’s face with a glass leaving him permanently scarred has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Ciaran Gilford, aged 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm at the Wright Venue, Airside in Swords on December 1, 2012.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Stephen Doyle, aged 42, suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, permanent scarring, and continuing numbness in his left jaw after his face was slashed with a glass in an unprovoked assault.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the final 18 months.

She ordered that Gilford, of Donaghmede, Dublin 13, continue to take medication to treat ADHD and depression while in custody.

Gda Karen Duffy told Ronan Kennedy BL, prosecuting, that the victim had attended a boxing convention in the Wright Venue.

Mr Doyle’s friend who witnessed the assault said he was approached by Gilford who asked him where he got his pints. He told Gilford they were his and he had got them from the bar.

He said Gilford had an aggressive posture and appeared drunk and hyper. He said Gilford came close to his face and asked him to hit him but he did not react. He said he called a friend who had bought the drinks and then Mr Doyle came back from the toilet asking what was going on.

Gilford took a glass from a table and hit Mr Doyle.

Gilford told gardaí he had no memory of the incident.

Psychiatrist Dr Sean O’Domhnaill told the court Gilford suffered post-traumatic stress disorder from an incident in 2007 when he had nearly died.

Gilford was also diagnosed with ADHD as a child, but had never been treated due to his parents’ reluctance to give him Ritalin.