Man who attacked former partner and disfigured her face fails in appeal

A man originally from Sligo has been unsuccessful in appealing his conviction for a serious assault on his former partner. Fergal McNulty (44) was sentenced to eight years imprisonment in July 2012 following his conviction on two counts of assault causing harm. The offences occurred in September 2009 on St Anne's Road in Drumcondra, Dublin. A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found McNulty guilty after hearing evidence that the victim was struck to the face, sustaining a significant laceration that resulted in permanent scarring and disfigurement. McNulty had maintained his not guilty plea throughout trial. The Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John MacMenamin, upheld the original conviction, finding no grounds of unsafety and accordingly dismissed the appeal.