Man jailed for glass assault in Temple Bar pub

A MAN who started a pub fight and struck a French teacher with a pint glass, causing serious facial injuries, has been given a three and a half year sentence.

The victim, Thomas Gohin, described how his nose had been “cut in two” by the assault and that it took him a long time to come to accept his “new face”. He said he suffered psychological effects but could not afford counselling or surgery. He has since left his teaching job and returned to France.

Graham Quigley (45), of Avonmore Grove, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Gohin causing him harm at the Foggy Dew Public House, Temple Bar, on May 7, 2015.

Quigley told gardaí he had started the fight after his sister was insulted by another person in the pub. The fight then spread across the dance floor to where Mr Gohin was assaulted.

Judge Melanie Greally noted that Mr Gohin had made a decision to try to end the fight and become engaged with Quigley who struck him in the face as he held him in a headlock.

She said he suffered a scar to a prominent location on his face, as well as to his arm, but that plastic surgery was beyond his means. She said the effects of the assault had permeated every area of his life.

Judge Greally noted Quigley has since stayed out of trouble, expressed remorse and was addressing his issues around alcohol and drug use and homelessness. She imposed a three and a half year sentence, suspending the final year.

Quigley has two minor convictions in Ireland as well as a number of convictions from the UK, including one for grievous bodily harm and the remainder for offences such as shoplifting.

Defence counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, said he was instructed to apologise to the victim and say that there was absolutely no justification for the assault with the glass. His client accepted he overreacted.

Quigley was on medication on the night and had drank alcohol, despite being advised against it.

He asked the court to take into account Quigley’s remorse, his co-operation with the prosecution, the fact he had not come to further attention, has stayed away from pubs and lived a stable lifestyle.

He said Quigley had gone to the UK when he was 18-years-old and was initially in employment but became involved with the law there and began living a largely homeless and “shambolic lifestyle”.

Mr Dwyer said Quigley was now living back in his mother’s home and working in a bakery.

Fiona Ferguson