A LIMERICK man who bit off 40 per cent of a garda’s earlobe during a dispute outside a fast-food restaurant in the city has been sentenced to four years in prison by Limerick Circuit Court.
Judge Carroll Moran heard that Gary Culhane (32), with an address at Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, behaved in an “outrageous and animalistic” way outside the Chicken Hut on O’Connell Street on October 4th, 2008, where he had been eating with his 21 month-old daughter.
Culhane was charged with assault causing serious harm to Garda Eamon O’Riordan and assault causing harm to Garda Robert Young. He had been released from prison shortly before the incident.
In a victim impact statement, John O’Sullivan, for the prosecution, told how Gda O’Riordan, whose ear was partially bitten off, has since felt unsafe in his job. “He [Culhane] acted like a wild animal without care for anybody’s safety,” read Mr O’Sullivan.
Gda O’Riordan had received 13 stitches to his earlobe after the assault and spent a month off duty.
“He bit his ear and held on until it tore off. When he had a piece bitten off he kept trying to bite more off,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
Gda O’Riordan also said that prior to the court hearing Mr Culhane had not apologised to him; instead, he said the defendant “just sniggered” at him in court.
However, in court, Culhane said he wanted to apologise to the gardaí for causing them harm.
On the night in question, Culhane’s partner called Henry Street Garda station at about 10pm. She stated that Culhane, who had spent the day with their daughter, was refusing to bring her back and he wanted the child to stay with him that night. Gardaí followed the mother to the Chicken Hut where there was a row and when Culhane left with the child in his arms, he told one of the gardaí to “f*** off”. His daughter began crying, and after calming her down, he handed her over to her mother. However, he then lunged at the woman once she had placed the child in her car.
Gardaí attempted to restrain Culhane, but he headbutted Gda Young, who fell to the ground.
Andrew Sexton SC for the defence, said his client had amassed 81 previous convictions.
Mr Sexton said his client did not act in a premeditated way, but noted it was an “emotive” and “explosive situation for him”. The judge said Culhane faced a maximum sentence of life on the charge of assault causing serious harm, but imposed a four-year sentence given a number of mitigating factors, including his early plea of guilty.