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Man jailed for biting off part of his victim's ear in unprovoked attack loses sentence appeal

Summary

Darren Byrne, 34, of Harelawn Avenue, Clondalkin, was convicted of assaulting a man at The Village Inn, Clondalkin, on 23 June 2012. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 24 February 2015. Byrne's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 8 October 2015. Sheehan noted that CCTV showed the victim speaking to Byrne before Byrne punched him, and that the victim was later grabbed by the neck and had part of his ear severed. The victim suffered ongoing anxiety, depression and career impacts. Byrne had no prior violent convictions, had been on medication for depression, and had a history of heroin use and mouth cancer. The Court of Appeal found no error in the sentencing decision and upheld the three‑year term.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man jailed for biting off part of his victim's ear in unprovoked attack loses sentence appeal. Charges or matters: assaulting the man causing him harm at The Village Inn, Clondalkin, Dublin on June 23, 2012. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• June 23, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 24 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2015-10-08 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report