Man avoids prison after 'vicious assault' on woman

A man who left a woman feeling like 'a shell of a human' following a vicious assault has avoided going to prison.

Gavin Gallagher attacked Dearbhla Adams after necking a cocktail of ten pints and five shorts.

Judge John Aylmer had told Gavin Gallagher that he would suspend his two year prison sentence if he paid his victim €10,000.

The 27-year-old left the pub and then insulted Ms Adams as she was waiting to be collected with her boyfriend by her mother in the village of Dunfanaghy.

When her boyfriend objected to Gallagher’s insults, a row ensued.

During the incident on the night of June 25th, 2018, Gallagher viciously assaulted Mr Adams.

She was rushed to hospital where she suffered serious damage to her front teeth and face.

She revealed that when looked in the mirror and didn’t recognise herself because her injuries were so severe with swelling and abrasions.

In her victim impact statement Ms Adams said she still suffers flashbacks and has nightmares and 'felt like a shell of a human just waking up to go back to sleep again'.

Gallagher, of Greenhill, Dunfanaghy, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault causing harm at Letterkenny Circuit Court in January 2021.

He had previously paid €6,300 to cover Ms Adams’ dental expenses.

Judge Aylmer indicated that he would impose a two year jail sentence on Gallagher but suspend it in full if he paid his victim €10,000.

His barrister, Mr Peter Nolan, told the court this week that the balance of the money had been handed into court.

Judge Aylmer said he would do as he had indicated and suspended the sentence ordering Gallagher to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a period of 12 months.