Sentence is suspended

A man who bit off a large portion of another man's ear after drinking Red Bull and vodka has been given a two-year suspended sentence by Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Gavin Walsh (27), Lealand Avenue, Clondalkin is also to pay £10,000 compensation to his victim, and a further £2,000 to a second man he headbutted and knocked unconscious on the same occasion. Walsh a self-employed courier, pleaded guilty to assaulting both men causing them harm on July 11th, 1999. The court heard Walsh had been at a party that night and had a row with his girlfriend on the way home. The two victims thought the girl was being hassled and a row broke out with Walsh when they intervened. Walsh was arrested at the scene and claimed he had acted in self-defence.