A Judge Roy Beans disco doorman has been jailed for four years by Judge Frank O'Donnell, who said he used a man's head as "a battering ram" to remove him from the premises.
Paul Burke (38), of St Finian's Grove, Lucan, was convicted by a jury earlier this month of assaulting computer programmer Mr Kevin Daunt (44), from Longlands, Swords, causing him harm on June 29th, 2001.
Mr Daunt underwent life-saving surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain on the night of the assault, and is currently in Beaumont Hospital having a plate fitted in his head after he was forcible ejected from Judge Roy Beans by Burke and then struck his head off a bollard.
Judge O'Donnell suspended the last 12 months of the sentence because he accepted Burke had shown genuine remorse.
He said: "Mr Daunt is very fortunate to be alive, and his only real transgression was that he had too much to drink. Having regard to your respective sizes, he was simply putty in your hands.
"I have no doubt you used his head as a battering ram, and he would not and could not resist you. He hasn't worked since the day of the incident, and he may never work again. But I will take into consideration the fact that a prison sentence will not be easy for a man of your previous occupation."
Det Sgt Mark Kavanagh told Mr Robert Barron, prosecuting, that Mr Daunt spent 26 days in hospital following the assault, and was currently in Beaumont Hospital having an operation to insert a plate into his head.
He said Burke was convicted of assault causing harm at Dublin District Court last year, and was bound to the peace. That offence occurred only a month before he assaulted Mr Daunt.
Mr Daunt told the jury he spent 26 days in hospital after he was frog-marched from the premises with his left-hand pinned behind his back by Burke who had admitted him a few minutes earlier.
He said one tooth was broken when his face was rammed into part of the door as he was being pushed forward at speed, and he was propelled out in such a way that his head hit off a bollard.
Mr Daunt told Mr Barron he had a few drinks in each of several bars with the intention of going on to a late-night function in the Gaiety theatre. He decided to see what Judge Roy Beans looked like as he had not been there for some time.
He found the place very full and noisy with music he didn't like, and decided to have just one short drink, a tequila, instead of a pint. He was just about to drink it when he was tapped on the shoulder by Burke, who said he had too much to drink.
Mr Daunt said he had no objection to leaving, and replied "OK" but just as he turned to go, Burke pinned his left arm behind his back and grabbed the collar of his shirt before pushing him towards the door.
Mr Michael Dreelan, for Burke, said his client was a married man with two children and was now unemployed. He gave gardaí an undertaking on the day of his arrest that he would never work as a doorman again, and while he contested the fact that he assaulted Mr Daunt, he always recognised he caused the injuries.