A baker lost sight in one eye after he was struck in the face with a glass. In the High Court in Cork yesterday, he settled his claim for damages against the pub owner for an undisclosed sum.
Mr Patrick Hegarty (26), of Hyde's Park, Ballinacurra, Midleton, was the victim of an attack by one of a group drinking in the Sessions Bar, owned by Mr Joseph Carroll.
The Butler family were in the bar for some hours on November 11th, 1989, following a memorial Mass for four children who died in a fire in Co Tipperary four years earlier. Mr Edward Gleeson SC, said Mr Hegarty was an innocent party who went into the bar for a drink and to meet his girlfriend.
As he went into the toilet, he noticed the Butler family group gathered in the bar. Mr "Paddens" Butler, the father of three of the children, and a relative, Mr Michael Butler, were in the toilet.
"Paddens was bleeding from a cut over his eye. The other member of the family, the bigger man, seemed to take exception to the presence of Mr Hegarty and another man, a Mr Galvin. He struck Mr Galvin and then, with a glass in his hand which he had taken with him full of drink into the toilet, he struck the plaintiff in the eye," said Mr Gleeson.
Mr Hegarty lost sight in his left eye.
On being told that the case was settled, Mr Justice Budd said the injury which Mr Hegarty received was horrific for a young man. He was pleased the matter had been satisfactorily resolved.