Man who attacked his former partner leaving her permanently disfigured fails in Supreme Court bid

A man originally from Sligo has failed in his bid to have his conviction appeal heard by the Supreme Court following an attack on his former partner in Dublin in 2009. Fergal McNulty was convicted by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm and assault causing serious harm after striking the woman on the face, causing permanent facial scarring. He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment in July 2012. The Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed his initial appeal in March, finding the conviction was safe. McNulty's legal team subsequently applied for Supreme Court referral, arguing the case raised a point of law of exceptional public importance concerning jury instruction on alibi defences. On Wednesday, the Court of Criminal Appeal, comprising three judges, rejected this application. The court determined that no point of law of exceptional public importance had been established and that it was not in the public interest to refer the matter to the Supreme Court.