A taxi driver who bit off part of a man's ear was jailed for two and a half years at Trim Circuit Court today.
62-year-old Dermot Tobin, of Tower View, Trim, Co Meath pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing serious harm on April 15 2017 at Kennedy Road in Navan.
Garda Eoin Farrell told the court the victim had been messing at the back of the defendant's car at the taxi rank and leaning on the boot that afternoon.
The defendant got out and shouted at the injured party, who retreated into a nearby shopping centre.
A short time later the victim was passing the rank and the defendant screamed at him and chased him down the street.
The injured party fell and Tobin then grabbed him, dragged him to his feet, leaned forward, bit part of his ear and spat it on the ground.
When he was arrested, Tobin claimed the other man had headbutted him and his teeth got caught in the other man's ear.
The court heard the defendant had €10,000 for the victim whose injury was permanent.
A defence barrister told the court his client was ashamed and never intended causing injury but had found himself in the middle of a tussle.
Judge Martina Baxter described Tobin's behaviour as disgraceful and cannibalistic and sentenced him to three and a half years with the final 12 months suspended.
