A 31-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty to a charge of "recklessly causing serious harm" to an Italian student in Fairview in 1999.
Mr Guido Nasi - who was 17 at the time - sustained a fractured skull in the attack in Fairview Park, when a man smashed a beer bottle on his head.
The attack happened after Mr Nasi had chased a youth who had stolen his wallet.
Mr Nasi, who was studying English in Dublin, was left almost completely paralysed by the attack.
Today, James Osbourne, formerly from Forth Road, East Wall and now from Ardilaune, Dublin 3, admitted the assault charges in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr Michael Higgins SC, for the defense, said Osbourne "deeply regretted the terrible, catastrophic injuries inflicted to Mr Nasi".
Osbourne will be sentenced tomorrow.