AN ex garda is to pay £5,000 compensation to his former girlfriend, also a garda, for smashing her nose in the Break for the Border nightspot last year.
Mr Ciaran O'Hickey went out with Garda Sandra Keane for two years, after they met at the Garda Training College in Templemore until the night of the incident, Judge Kieran O'Connor was told, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Following an incident involving, some English visitors she told him she was ending their relationship. ,He came back to where she was [sitting and lunged at her with his head, Insp Michael Cleary said in reply to Mr Adrian Mannering, prosecuting.
O'Hickey (26) of Kilteel Road, Rathcoole, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Keane and fracturing her nose on June 23rd, 1996.
Insp Cleary said O'Hickey had an unblemished record before that. When charged with this offence he resigned from the Garda.
Mr Pat O'Connell, defending, said civil proceedings had been taken by Garda Keane against the defendant, who was remorseful for what he did and for the end of their relationship.
He had a respectful attitude to women. He had not taken drink since that night and was getting alcohol counselling.
Judge O'Connor said the £5,000 compensation offer was "commendable" and saved O'Hickey from a jail sentence. Hitting a woman the way he did was a jailing offence but he would adjourn sentence to October 23rd next to allow the defendant to pay the money and to continue his alcohol treatment.