A local man on a work travel visa in Australia has been jailed for attacking another Irishman in what was described as a callous and cowardly attack.
Gordon Thomas Melia, a 26-year-old backpacker from North Galway, was given a 12 month sentence for attacking 28-year-old Kieran Byrne from Monaghan.
The attack happened at about 5am on October 6 last at Burswood Casino in Perth. Byrne, originally from Castleblayney, was left with a broken nose and a broken cheekbone after he was attacked from behind while leaving the casino.
The court was told that the offence occurred after exchanges between Melia and his friends, and Byrne and his friends. Byrne walked away and was talking on his mobile phone when Melia tapped him on the shoulder, turned him around and punched him twice in the face.
Byrne suffered fractures to his nose, cheek, and eye socket, permanent damage to his vision, and chipped teeth. Following surgery he has a metal plate with seven metal screws in his cheekbone, including titanium mesh around his eye socket.
Following the assault police investigators worked closely with Customs and Immigration to locate Melia.
They had been informed that he had left the State of Western Australia shortly after the attack, and was somewhere on the eastern seaboard.
Defence lawyer Blair Doncon told the court that Melia had flown to Victoria for a visit, and when he heard that WA police were looking for him, he contacted them, and was subsequently extradited.
Doncon also said that his client had been very drunk and when he viewed security footage of the attack, he was dismayed by his behaviour and sincerely regretted what had happened.
During a police press conference shortly after the attack Byrne described his assailant as cowardly, and said that due to the severity of the attack he had no memory of the incident itself. Melia pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and will serve at least six months before possible parole.
