A man who took exception to a male friend of his separated partner being in their home had a piece of his ear bitten off during a fight between the two, a court was told yesterday.
Mr Maurice O'Connell (40), of Deanrock, Togher, Cork, appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday on an assault charge arising from the incident which occurred in the, home of Ms Mary O'Sullivan at Ferney Grove, Mahon, on March 14th, 1996.
Mr Frederick Bailey, her former partner and father of her three children, said Ms O'Sullivan had been having an affair with Mr O'Connell for seven years before they split up. Mr O'Connell was visiting Ms O'Sullivan when Mr Bailey called.
During a fight Mr O'Connell bit off part of Mr Bailey's ear, but yesterday he was acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Judge Patrick Moran decided it would be unsafe to allow the jury to decide on the outcome of the case after hearing a submission from a defence barrister, Mr Sean O Donobhain, that Mr O'Connell acted in self defence.