'Girlfriend fancy' led to vicious pub attack
Thursday November 26 2009
A MAN who attacked an acquaintance, leaving him with a fractured cheekbone and a missing tooth, because he thought his girlfriend fancied him has to carry out 240 hours community service in lieu of a three-year sentence.
Adriano Fusco (39) knocked Jim Manning to the floor and bashed his head off the ground after Mr Manning and his wife came back to the accused's home following a night out together.
A medical report before the court said that victim had broken teeth as well as the missing tooth and a cut over his eye.
Judge Katherine Delahunt noted that in the intervening years since the assault, Fusco has carried out voluntary work in India on several occasions despite the failure of his motor business in recent times.
Remorse
She said Mr Manning received serious injuries but accepted that the crime was out of character for Fusco, that he had expressed remorse and paid over €30,000 compensation.
Garda Thomas Ryan said that a victim impact report indicated that Mr Manning, a property developer, had estimated that his dental work would cost €21,000. He was out of work for two months and had lost €50,000 in potential income.
Fusco of Orchard Mews, Sweetmount Avenue, Dundrum pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Mr Manning on December 12, 2007. He had no previous convictions.
Gda Ryan told Cormac Quinn, prosecuting, that Mr Manning's wife and Fusco's girlfriend were cousins.
When the foursome went back to the Fusco's home, the accused started to "hassle" the victim's wife and the Mannings went to leave.
Mr Manning went to ask Fusco's girlfriend if she wanted to come with them when the accused attacked him.
Gda Ryan said that Fusco claimed that Mr Manning had come after him but gardai were satisfied that the victim had not hit the accused at any stage.
hnews@herald.ie
- Sonya McLean
