A 24-year-old man has been given a three-year sentence for what was described as a vicious and animalistic assault in which another young man's ear was bitten off.
Clinton Keane, of Castlewood Park in Ennis, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garry Brown in the market area of Ennis on 17 March 2005.
Ennis Circuit Court heard that Mr Brown's ear was completely severed in the attack.
Judge Sean O'Donnabhain described the assault as 'vicious, animalistic and unnecessary', adding that 'society would be outraged if he did not send the accused to jail'.
Three other men accused of violent disorder arising from the same incident were acquitted.
