The man who caused serious brain damage to former Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest soccer player Miah Dennehy has been given a six-year prison sentence.
54-year-old David Naughton, with an address at Avonmore Park, Mayfield, was told by Judge Seán O'Donnabháin that the final two years would be suspended on condition that he remained under the care of the Probation Services.
He must stay away from all licensed premises in the Cork area and remain sober in public.
Last month, a jury took less than 17 minutes to find the man who called himself ‘a buddy’ of Mr Dennehy's guilty.
Naughton had pleaded not guilty to the serious assault of Mr Dennehy at the Fob & Gill pub in Mayfield on 17 August 2007.
Describing the assault as vicious, premeditated and violent, Judge O'Donnabháin said a lot had been made of Naughton's diabetes.
However, having heard the evidence of the viciousness Naughton portrayed that night, the judge said diabetes was not connected.
The court was told that Mr Dennehy's short term memory is gone, his long term memory is seriously impaired, he gets confused and is no longer capable of independent living following the attack.
Mr Dennehy was in a critical condition in hospital for several weeks and had to have two blood clots removed.
One of the best known sports stars in Cork, Mr Dennehy is still remembered for becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in an FAI Cup Final.
