Man had ear removed after biting incident

A final-year student’s left ear, bitten off by a classmate on a Christmas night out, later had to be amputated after surgery was unsuccessful.

Victim Colm Holland had intervened to protect another student from attacker Michael Aherne, 29, from Barrett’s Hill, Ballinhassig, Co Cork.

The ear bite incident occurred on December 20, 2013.

Detective Garda Anne O’Sullivan said a number of parties were involved in a disagreement in a fast food outlet in Cork at about 2.30am, before the injured party arrived.

“Mr Holland and others intervened as Aherne was getting more aggressive . He got a punch in the nose from Ahern and tried to strike back but was dazed and did not make contact.”

She said they fell backwards on to the street with Aherne on top . The victim felt Aherne take a bite into his ear. Mr Holland roared in pain and felt his ear detach.

“His ear was recovered on the roadway. It was re-attached but unfortunately it had to be amputated as the surgery was not a success,” the detective said.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Holland recalled “holding my severed ear in tissue on the way to hospital. I was alone in the A&E for hours waiting to be seen. The re-attachment was unsuccessful.”

He said the assault prevented him from moving on with his life and he outlined the pain and suffering of extensive reconstructive surgeries, so far. He is self-conscious and has not applied for jobs due to the likely amount of absences for weekly clinic appointments and future surgeries.

He said the injury had scarred him physically and mentally.

The detective said: “It is an awful pity, very sad for both families.”

Alice Fawsett, defence senior counsel, said Aherne was genuinely remorseful and he had gathered €10,000 in compensation.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said there had to be some custodial element. He remanded Aherne in custody until March 20 for sentencing.

He added: “This is a very difficult case for two young men, one of whom is blighted for life, the other has a conviction and potential for a prison sentence.”