Three convicted of vicious attack on American tourist
Thursday November 05 2009
AN American tourist who was one of six people violently attacked after a St Patrick's Day parade had his eye socket fractured and has permanent double vision, a court has heard.
Three men pleaded guilty at Clonmel Circuit Court to charges associated with a series of vicious and unprovoked assaults in Tipperary town on the evening of March 17 last. Dan Delaney (18) and Ned Delaney (21), both of Carrowclough, Tipperary, and Patrick O'Keeffe (19) of St Ailbe's Drive, Tipperary, admitted violent disorder.
All three have been remanded in custody to appear again before the Circuit Court next February.
They were drinking all day and inflicted 15 minutes of "wanton violence and thuggery," the court was told yesterday.
Both Delaney brothers also pleaded guilty to four counts of assault causing harm, while O'Keeffe pleaded guilty to a common assault charge.
Missouri-based lawyer James Faul (29) travelled from the United States to give evidence at yesterday's court hearing and said that the "complete randomness and complete senselessness and the degree of violence" had affected his life and that of his wife since the attacks.
- Conor Kane
Irish Independent
