Ireland Case No. 22900Assault causing serious harm (firework) · Co. Galway · 22 Oct 2021
Man sentenced to 18 months for firework assault that blinded Galway woman in one eye
Alex Byrne, 23, of Dundrum, Dublin, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Galway Circuit Criminal Court for discharging an eight-shot Roman candle firework in Eyre Square, Galway, on 22 October 2021, which struck Katie Marnell at a bus stop and left her blind in one eye.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced11 Jan
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports53 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKatie Marnell is a 20-year-old Galway student (rte.ie)
- whatMarnell lost the sight in her left eye (rte.ie)
- whatAlex Byrne was jailed for 18 months for assault causing serious harm (rte.ie)
- whatThere were hundreds of students in Eyre Square on the night of the incident (rte.ie)
- whatMarnell's dreams of becoming a surgeon have been shattered (rte.ie)
- whatByrne showed genuine remorse and issued a complete and fulsome apology in court (rte.ie)
- whatByrne's family were present in court and were visibly upset (rte.ie)
- whatByrne had no previous convictions (rte.ie)
- whatByrne had addressed issues around alcohol and taken responsibility for his actions (rte.ie)
- whatThe judge found Byrne had not intended to cause harm but his actions were gross criminal recklessness (rte.ie)
- whatMarnell has embarked on a course in midwifery (rte.ie)
- whatKatie Marnell was 19 at the time of the incident (galwaydaily.com)
- whatShe lost sight in her left eye (galwaydaily.com)
- whatByrne pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and illegally igniting a firework (galwaydaily.com)
- whatThe firework was an eight-shot Roman candle meant to be fired directly up (galwaydaily.com)
- whatByrne was holding the firework in one hand and trying to record it on his phone in the other (galwaydaily.com)
- whatByrne came to Galway on the 21st to celebrate a friend's birthday (galwaydaily.com)
- whatKatie incurred more than €20,000 in medical expenses in the past year (galwaydaily.com)
- whatKatie's mother gave up work for two months to care for her (galwaydaily.com)
- whatThe blast caused hearing loss in Katie's left ear (galwaydaily.com)
- whatMedications resulted in an irregular heartbeat (galwaydaily.com)
- whatThe injury also affected her ability to paint and do ballet (galwaydaily.com)
- whatByrne checked into the hotel on the morning of the 21st (galwaydaily.com)
- whatByrne's barrister was Paul Flannery SC (galwaydaily.com)
- whatByrne lives with his mother and brother in Dublin (galwaydaily.com)
- whatByrne discharged an eight-shot Roman candle firework in Eyre Square, Galway (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim underwent eight hours of surgery (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim would never see from her left eye again and would require a prosthetic (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim suffers with debilitating whiplash migraines, ice-pick headaches and hearing loss (irishtimes.com)
- whereKatie Marnell is from Knocknacarra (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred in Galway's Eyre Square (rte.ie)
- whereThe victim was standing at a bus stop across the road from Eyre Square (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident took place in October 2021 (rte.ie)
- whenByrne was arrested in Dublin on 17 November 2021 (galwaydaily.com)
- whenThe incident occurred just after midnight on 22 October 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDetective Garda Gerry Carroll gave evidence at the sentencing (galwaydaily.com)
- investigationGarda Jonathan Burke and Garda Niall Mulhern were on duty in Eyre Square that night (galwaydaily.com)
- investigationByrne was tracked back to the Western Hotel Apartments on Prospect Hill via CCTV (galwaydaily.com)
- investigationCCTV footage identified Byrne, who was attempting to film himself setting off the firework (irishtimes.com)
- investigationByrne was arrested on 17 November 2021 at his home in Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing took place at Galway Circuit Court (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Brian O'Callaghan presided over the sentencing (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Galway Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceByrne was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison with the final 15 months suspended (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was set at 33 months after mitigation, with the final 15 months suspended for two years (galwaydaily.com)
- sentenceByrne was ordered to pay €3,000 to the victim within one month (galwaydaily.com)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was five-and-a-half years in prison (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceFifteen months of the sentence were suspended (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceByrne was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceByrne was ordered to pay €3,000 in compensation to Ms Marnell (irishtimes.com)
- otherMarnell's parents are Richard and Cora Marnell, and her sisters are Emma and Sorcha (rte.ie)
- otherFootage showed Byrne returning to apartments to collect the firework (irishtimes.com)
- otherEyre Square was packed with hundreds of revellers due to pubs closing early under Covid-19 restrictions (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Jan2023Man sentenced to 18 months for firework assault that blinded Galway woman in one eye
Sentencing article: Byrne pleaded guilty, received a headline sentence of five-and-a-half years reduced to 18 months with 15 months suspended, and was ordered to pay €3,000 in compensation.
victim, Katie Marnell, female, irish (judged from name)Katie Marnellaccused, Alex Byrne, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alex Byrne - 13 Jan2023Man who caused life changing injuries with firework in Eyre Square jailed - Galway Daily
Full sentencing hearing details including victim impact statement, defence evidence, judge's remarks, and the specific sentence structure (33 months with 15 months suspended, €3,000 compensation order).
victim, Katie Marnell, 19, female, irish (judged from name)Katie Marnellconvicted, Alex Byrne, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alex Byrne - 11 Jan2023Man jailed for igniting firework which hit woman's face
Provides the full sentencing details: Judge Brian O'Callaghan sentenced Byrne to two years and nine months with 15 months suspended (18 months effective). Includes victim impact statement from Katie Marnell, details on Byrne's remorse, no previous convictions, and alcohol issues. Confirms Marnell is 20, from Knocknacarra, and has begun a midwifery course after her surgical career was ended.
victim, Katie Marnell, 20, female, irish (judged from name)Katie Marnellconvicted, Alex Byrne, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alex Byrne