A Dublin man, jailed for eight-and-a-half years for an assault which left an Italian student paralysed from the neck down, has failed in his appeal to have his sentence reduced.
James Osbourne from Forth Road, East Wall in Dublin, had appealed the length of the sentence imposed by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2001.
His victim, Guido Nasi celebrated his 21st birthday this week but is understood to be extremely unwell.
Guido Nasi's irreversible condition is the result of being struck on the head with a half-full bottle of lager by James Osbourne.
In 1999, Mr Nasi was a 17-year-old student in Ireland to learn English. Osbourne attacked him in Fairview Park after Guido had confronted a young boy over the disappearance of his wallet.
Osbourne pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Nasi and was jailed for 8.5 years. He appealed the sentence, arguing that it was excessive.
The Court of Criminal Appeal, however, dismissed his appeal.
The court said that the sentence appropriate to the destruction of a young man's life may not necessarily be less than that which would have been appropriate for manslaughter if death had resulted. The court added that the cliché 'a fate worse than death' came to mind.
