Courts / Waterford / Report

Youth who shoved broken bottle into teen's eye is returned to jail

Date
2018-10-15
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dungarvan
County
Waterford

Summary

Patrick Harty, aged 21, was re‑sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment after the Court of Appeal found his original three‑year term too lenient. The new sentence, with the final two‑and‑a‑half years suspended, imposes a net four‑year jail term. Harty had pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm at a New Year's Eve house party in 2014, during which he smashed a bottle and thrust it into a 19‑year‑old's face, causing the victim to lose the use of one eye. He also pleaded guilty to an unprovoked assault on a man in Dungarvan on 1 September 2015. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted that the two assaults were separate incidents and that the original concurrent sentencing was overly lenient.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Youth who shoved broken bottle into teen's eye is returned to jail. Charges or matters: assault causing serious harm at a house party in the county on New Year's Eve, 2014; an unprovoked assault on a man in Dungarvan on September 1, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Why: Mr Justice Birmingham said the second assault in Dungarvan was "utterly unprovoked" and the only motive appeared to be that the victim had distinctive long black hair halfway down his back and a long triangular beard. CNI source report

Case subjects

Patrick Harty

Appellant

Charges: assault causing serious harm at a house party in the county on New Year's Eve, 2014; an unprovoked assault on a man in Dungarvan on September 1, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Harty was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Eugene O'Kelly on October 28, 2016. He was re-sentenced to six-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final two-and-a-half years suspended, involving consecutive sentences for both assaults.

Places mentioned

Incident
Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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