A MAN who was assaulted outside a disco has undergone a complete personality change resulting in him becoming childlike, his mother told a court yesterday.
Keith Murphy (35) of Kilpeadar, Dromohane, pleaded guilty in Cork Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Martin O'Riordan (32) of The Willows, Mallow, occasioning him actual bodily harm on August 8th, 1996.
The court heard a row had broken out at a 25th birthday party in a hotel disco when Murphy abused Mr O'Riordan. Mr Colman O'Riordan said he saw Murphy hit his brother on the car outside the disco. His brother fell, hitting his head off a car. He was unconscious and was taken to hospital.
Ms Nora O'Riordan said Martin who cannot recall the incident, was "a totally changed boy".
He has to be constantly supervised, even to cross the road, and is on several medications including antidepressants. He suffers double vision and behaves like a six year old.
Before the assault he was a bright young man and was planning to start his own business.
Mr Sean O Donobhain, defending, apologised to Ms O'Riordan on behalf of his client, who offered £5,000 compensation. This was rejected.
Judge Patrick Moran said it was a very serious assault and Murphy was lucky not to be facing a murder charge. He sentenced him to three years' imprisonment.