‘He had his teeth sunk in my face’ – Electrician given chance to raise more compensation for victim

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

An electrician had no recollection of biting another man in the face during a row at a hotel, Dundalk Circuit Court has heard.

Ryan Murphy (30), Friary Road, Mowhan, Armagh, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm at Carrickdale Hotel on March 28, 2016.

The victim told Gardaí that his assailant “had his teeth sunk into my face and he wasn’t letting go”.

A sentence hearing was told that the man was not scarred. Bruising went away after a couple of weeks.

Judge Dara Hayes adjourned the case to November 11 to find out if the victim wanted to accept the money.

He said it was an opportunity for the defendant to “deepen his gesture of remorse”.

Remanding him on the same bail terms, the judge remarked that biting someone’s cheek was a significant aggravating factor.

A garda who took over the case from an officer no longer in the force, said that the victim had been socialising with friends.

He gave a statement and said that he recognised Ryan Murphy from Clady and said that this man accused him of hitting his mother’s car and driving off.

The defendant began swinging punches towards the victim’s friends. The injured party said that he pushed him away. Mr Murphy then came at him.

"We fell over a chair. He was on top of me biting harder and harder. He had his teeth sunk in my face and he wasn’t letting go”.

Mr Murphy was grabbed by bouncers, and had to be grabbed a second time.

The garda continued that the incident occurred inside in an area not covered by CCTV.

The victim recognised the other man and gave Gardaí a description of him.

No medical records from Daisy Hill Hospital where he was treated were available. Neither were witnesses found nor a report of the matter received by hotel security.

Mr Murphy had not been arrested for questioning. His guilty plea was useful. He had not come to adverse Garda attention since.

A bench warrant was issued when he failed to appear in the district court on October 4, 2017. The district court refused jurisdiction on the following November 8.

The injured man was present on a trial date.

He did not attend for a Victim Impact Statement.

Barrister Ronan O’Carroll said that this was “a nasty enough incident” of which Mr Murphy “has no recollection”. He was inebriated.

A father of three and an electrician, he was deeply embarrassed and shocked by his behaviour.

A reference from his employer who was aware of the case spoke highly of him. His partner had also written a letter to the court, describing him as a role model and the family bread winner.

Mr Murphy had €1,500 to offer if the other man was willing to accept it. His injuries seemed to be temporary.