Northern Ireland

Man who bit off part of another man's ear on the dancefloor given suspended sentence

The injured man suffered a fractured cheekbone and required surgery on his ear
The injured man suffered a fractured cheekbone and required surgery on his ear The injured man suffered a fractured cheekbone and required surgery on his ear

A MAN who bit off part of another man's ear on the dancefloor of a Belfast bar has been given a suspended sentence.

Ryan McKee admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on a fellow reveller - but claimed he was provoked after the other man made a lewd comment to his girlfriend.

The 31-year old, from Knights Avenue in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim was handed a two-year sentence, suspended for three years, by Judge Patricia Smyth at Belfast Crown Court and ordered to pay his victim £2,000 compensation.

Judge Smyth said that after watching CCTV of Fibber Magee's on August 20 last year, she accepted something was said by the injured party to McKee's girlfriend on the dancefloor, which prompted McKee to react.

"You and your girlfriend were having an ordinary night out. There is no suggestion you were looking for trouble in any way," she said.

"You... were dancing and enjoying each other's company at the time, then clearly an altercation occurred, no doubt after a lot of alcohol had been taken."

Judge Smyth said McKee went "too far" in his response and "excessive force" was used.

The injured man suffered a fractured cheekbone and required surgery on his ear.

The judge said she was treating the fact McKee used his teeth "as a weapon" as an aggravating factor, but was taking into consideration hiss excellent work record, the fact he has no issues with alcohol or drugs, and that he is deemed a low likelihood of re-offending by probation.

She said hoped it would be a "very salutory lesson".