A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail for an assault on Italian student, Guido Nasi, in Dublin two years ago. James Osbourne has also been refused leave to appeal.
Osbourne, from Forth Road in East Wall, attacked Mr Nasi over the head with a beer bottle near Fairview Park, leaving him almost totally paralysed from the neck down.
Before Judge Elizabeth Dunne handed down the sentence, Osbourne heard a graphic account of how his actions left Mr Nasi a paraplegic.
Guido spent last night typing out a victim impact statement with limited movement of one finger, using a special computer attached to his wheelchair. He said that in July 1999 he was enjoying the most beautiful holiday of his life when he was plunged into a nightmare.
Counsel for James Osbourne said he was truly remorseful for what he had done and would willingly change places with Guido Nasi if he could.
Just before imposing sentence, Judge Elizabeth Dunne said she had nothing but admiration for the way in which Guido Nasi had dealt with the whole event. She also said she took into account the difference between an intentional act and a reckless act.
