A young man who lost his two front teeth in a punch attack in a Letterkenny nightclub is facing a repair bill of €14,000, the local district court has heard.
Daniel McCormack, 22, from Glendowan, Churchill, pleaded guilty at Letterkenny District Court to attacking Fanad man Paul Heraghty, on March 20, 2016.
Inspector Michael Harrison told the court that Mr Heraghty was chatting to McCormack’s girlfriend at PULSE club about a mutual friend when McCormack came up and asked him why he was talking to her.
Mr Heraghty said he had responded by saying they had been “talking about nothing, just about my little cousin”.
Seconds later McCormack punched Mr Heraghty in the face, knocking out his two front teeth.
Inspector Harrison said that Lidl worker McCormack had replied ‘no comment’ when later questioned about the assault and shown CCTV footage of the incident.
However Mr Heraghty had sent McCormack a message on Facebook Messenger on the night of the incident.
And later in June McCormack had responded by apologising for the attack and offering to pay the costs, estimated at €14,000 which included a range of future ongoing treatment including root canal and implants.
McCormack wrote: “Yes lad, didn’t see this message request…I am sorry about the whole handling, I didn’t mean any of it, was all drink like, not my nature at all. I’ll pay for all your teeth and everything if you don’t wanna bring it to court. Be far handier lad.”
Donough Cleary, defence solicitor, said that his client admitted the offence on social media.
“He is very apologetic. Mr McCormack is a slight build of a young fella who is shy and demure – he works in local supermarket and can’t undo what he did and if he could, he would,” said the solicitor.
He said McCormack was still with his girlfriend and there was some dispute over what was said on the night.
Judge Paul Kelly adjourned the case until 27th March for a probation report.
