Actor given more time to raise compensation for 'punch up' victim

Wicklow actor Darren Healy has been given more time to gather compensation for the victim who developed a blood clot on his brain after hitting his head following a "standard punch up" with him in a pub.

Healy (aged 29), of The Cottage, Killegar, Enniskerry pleaded guilty last October to assaulting Mr Philip Bryan causing him harm at Eamon Doran's Pub in Temple Bar on June 10, 2005.

Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard then that doctors had not been able to establish if the blood clot had been caused by Healy's assault on Mr Bryan or by his subsequent fall to the ground when he hit his head on a step.

Judge Ryan, who was told that Healy was working in theatre in England, adjourned sentence then for six months to give him time to gather compensation for the victim as well as for urine analysis reports and has now adjourned the case further to October next for finalisation.

Healy has appeared in such TV series as 'The Clinic', 'Love Is the Drug' and 'Proof', and 'On Home Ground' as well as bit parts in films such as 'Layer Cake', 'Dead Bodies', 'The General', and 'Bloody Sunday'.

Detective Garda Paul Murphy told Mr Garnet Orange BL, prosecuting, that Healy was standing on stools in Eamon Dorans shaking and squirting bottles of "alcopop" over a crowd of friends when Mr Bryan went over and appeared to try to calm him down in an amicable exchange.

A witness described turning away from the men and then hearing a smack before she turned back around and saw Healy punch Mr Bryan twice in the face. Mr Bryan then fell to the ground hitting his head.

He was taken to hospital for treatment but discharged himself and returned home. He was rushed back to hospital the following day and treated for a blood clot on his brain after his mother found him unconscious.

Det Gda Murphy said Healy contacted gardai at Pearse Street Station and voluntarily made a statement. He had eight previous convictions for public order offences.

Healy told gardai that Mr Bryan had approached him looking for a fight while he was having "craic" with friends. He said he left the pub after they exchanged blows and that he was glad Mr Bryan had recovered.

Mr Bernard Condon BL, defending Healy, said if Mr Bryan had not hit his head this could have been "a standard punch up". He said his client had never intended to cause such serious injuries and noted that when he discovered the extent of the harm caused he immediately contacted gardai.

Mr Condon said Healy was an actor who had a history of substance abuse but who had been clean for over a year. He was currently working in England and has secured work into the future in an unstable profession.

He said Healy has expressed remorse and co-operated fully with gardai.