€70k for Kildare man glassed in face
Mr Justice Kevin Cross said Andrew Mulligan has been left with a severe scar about one and a half inches long near his upper lip following the nightclub incident.
Mechanic Andrew Mulligan, aged 28, of Castletown, Leixlip, Co Kildare, had sued Conor Heneghan, of Rockfield Manor, Maynooth, Co Kildare, over the assault at a Co Kildare nightclub on December 11, 2011.
It was claimed that Heneghan had reacted aggressively when Mr Mulligan said “That’s my girlfriend, that’s not on”, after Heneghan had acted inappropriately towards her.
Counsel Mark O’Connell told the court that Heneghan had been convicted in relation to the assault and sentenced to three and a half hears with one and a half years suspended and was now out of prison on temporary release. He said at the time of the criminal case, Heneghan was remorseful and paid €10,000 compensation to Mr Mulligan.
The case was before the High Court yesterday for assessment of damages only.
Counsel said Mr Mulligan had been with his then girlfriend in a nightclub. She went to the toilet but on her return, she was very upset and said that girlfriend had tried to kiss her.
When Mr Mulligan told Heneghan what he had done was not on, Heneghan who was intoxicated head butted and punched Mr Mulligan and pushed a pint glass in to the left side of his face.
In evidence Mr Mulligan told the court: “I told him it was not on; you can’t do that. He head butted me and the next bit is a bit of blur. A pint glass was pushed in my face and I was punched. A friend pulled me out of the premises.”
He said when he was in a hospital emergency department afterwards, Heneghan was there getting his hand attended to.
Making the award, Mr Justice Cross said it was a very nasty assault. Awarding a total of €70,000, he deducted €10,000 for the compensation already handed over by Heneghan bringing the final total award to €60,000.
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