FORMER REPUBLIC of Ireland and Nottingham Forest soccer player Miah Dennehy has been left with such a severe brain injury after an assault that he can no longer live an independent existence, a court was told yesterday.
Mr Dennehy’s family told how his life had changed dramatically following the assault by David Naughton on August 17th, 2007.
Naughton (54), Avonmore Park, Mayfield, Cork, was convicted at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday of assault causing serious harm to Mr Dennehy (58) outside the Fob and Gill pub in Mayfield.
The jury took just 17 minutes to find him guilty
Det Sgt Seán O’Regan read a victim impact statement on behalf of Mr Dennehy which was prepared by his brother Joe, detailing his family’s view of the assault by Naughton and the impact it has had on Mr Dennehy’s life.
“At the time of the incident and for many weeks after we felt that Miah would die as injuries suffered at the hand of David Naughton resulted in such severe brain injury,” said the Dennehy family in their statement.
“The weeks in the intensive care unit and the months that followed have traumatised his wife, children, brothers and sisters and extended family and continue to do so, as the future looks uncertain.”
During the trial the jury heard that Mr Dennehy became involved in an argument with Naughton in the Fob and Gill about another incident. When he left the pub, Naughton followed him outside and punched him twice in the face.
Eyewitness Shane O’Leary told how he saw Naughton hit Mr Dennehy who fell and hit his head on the ground and that Naughton went back into the pub. When Naughton came back out later he acted as if he did not know what had happened.
The Dennehy family said they could not forgive Naughton for going back into the pub to finish his drink rather than calling an ambulance and getting assistance which could have resulted in a different outcome for Mr Dennehy.
“Before the assault, Miah was a well-known, happy, jolly and heartfelt person who led a life of independence. Since then, Miah has been dependent on others as he is unable to live alone as a result of his injuries,” said the family.
They said that while Mr Dennehy’s physical appearance looks fine, he suffers from confusion, disorientation and aggression.
Despite getting help from a group working with those with a brain injury, he would never live a normal life again.
Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin noted the victim impact statement but granted an application by Naughton’s counsel, Blaise O’Carroll SC, to adjourn sentencing for a week to allow him to put his affairs in order. He remanded him on bail to appear again on March 6th.
He made it a condition of Naughton’s bail that he sign on daily at Mayfield Garda station and have no contact with any member of the Dennehy family and that he stay away from all pubs in Cork city while on bail.
Mr Dennehy became the first player to score a hat-trick in an FAI cup final when Cork Hibernians beat Waterford in 1972.
