Two men who assaulted a 36-year-old librarian assistant in Dublin city centre leaving him in a coma for two weeks have pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.
The pleas came on the third day of the trial of Stephen Nugent of St Werburgh's in Swords, Co Dublin, who is a tennis coach and Dermot Cooper of Fosterbrook, Stillorgan in south Dublin, who is a student.
The two had denied assault causing serious harm to Barry Duggan on Grafton Street in April 2003.
However this morning, after legal argument the two changed their plea to guilty to the less serious offence.
Assault causing serious harm can carry a jail term of up to life imprisonment while assault causing harm can lead to a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine.
Sentencing in the Circuit Criminal Court has been adjourned until 25 July.
