Brain injury victim Zac 'assaulted to make people laugh'

Thug jailed and ordered to pay €30k to victim of street attack

- LIAM COSGROVE

A MAN has told of how an "unprovoked" one-punch assault during a drink-fuelled street attack resulted in him undergoing three brain surgeries and having part of his skull removed.

Zac Martin, 20, takes a daily cocktail of medication and endures recurring nightmares as a result of the incident on Main Street in Ballymahon, Co Longford.

His assailant, Sean McCormack, 21, Rath Reagh, Smithfield, Legan, Co Longford, was handed down a 12-month prison sentence.

He was also ordered to pay Mr Martin €30,000 in compensation at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.

The incident occurred as Mr Martin began walking home after a verbal row broke out between him and another man.

The court heard how McCormack, who had been sitting in a car, got out and ran towards the victim before striking him once from behind on the back of his head.