Ryan Cahill slashed a student with a broken glass bottle on Seel Street after being confronted over a crude joke he had made
Ryan Cahill, of Balcurris Park in Dublin, aged 37(Image: Merseyside Police)
A man slashed a student across the face with a broken glass bottle during a hen do. Ryan Cahill left his victim with permanent facial scars after being confronted over a crude joke which he made to the stranger.
Despite having no memory of the incident due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed, he now says he is “deeply ashamed and embarrassed” over his drunken behaviour. While supporters described him as “someone who can be counted on to do the right thing”, a judge today told him: “Unfortunately, you did not do the right thing.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday, December 8 that the complainant, Ansh Saggar, had been out with friends in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of September 20 this year, having visited Arts Club before finding himself on Seel Street shortly after 2.30am. Cahill, of Balcurris Park in Dublin, then approached the group and began talking to them.
Iain Criddle, prosecuting, told the court this was initially a “light hearted conversation” before the defendant “made references to raping Mr Saggar’s friend”. Having been challenged over his comments, the 37-year-old initially walked away before smashing a glass bottle which he was carrying on a set of railings.
Cahill then confronted Mr Saggar once more in the area near to the Pogue Mahone bar, where he threatened the victim with this improvised weapon before using it to strike him in the face. This left him with deep cuts to the bridge of his nose and forehead, each of which required four stiches and are likely to result in permanent scarring.
Fiona McNeill, defending, said on Cahill’s behalf: “There is much that is positive to say about this man. Sadly though, he finds himself in the position he does and appreciates that, almost inevitably, today will result in a custodial sentence.
“This is a case where the defendant, in many ways, has sought to express his remorse. The letter that he has provided is a well meaning and measured assessment of his own culpability. It pulls no punches and sets out his deep shame and embarrassment about his involvement in this case.
“He doesn’t seek to provide any excuse. He doesn’t even seek to provide an explanation, other than that he had far too much to drink. The court can be optimistic that this is a man who is accepting of his responsibility and is doing all he can to ensure that this is never repeated.
“Clearly, the defendant can count himself lucky that the injuries sustained were not more serious and long lasting. Mercifully, that is the case.
“There is much to be said in a positive vein about this man. He is somebody without previous convictions. He has expressed genuine remorse. He is somebody who has suffered from mental health difficulties and has for some time. He is a man who has suffered childhood trauma. He has had difficulties within his family.
“He has taken on primary care responsibility in respect of his mother. It is inevitable that she will suffer as a result of a prison sentence being imposed upon her son.
“He has been in work throughout the period. He is due to start a new job on Wednesday. Clearly, he is realistic about that, but it shows that he is not somebody who has simply retreated. He is taking steps to try and make a positive contribution.”
Cahill admitted one count of wounding with intent. Appearing in the dock wearing a black long sleeved shirt and glasses, he was jailed for 30 months.
Sentencing, Recorder Nicola Daley said: “You had been drinking in the city centre, out for a friend’s hen do. You are somebody that has had an alcohol addiction for some time. Prior to this day, you had been seeking to address that. Once you started drinking, that sent you into a spiral of decline.
“On Seel Street, you came across Mr Saggar, a student who had been out for the evening. You approached him and his friends and were said to have made reference, at some point, to raping one of his friends. That was taken as a joke or banter initially, and it would appear that was all it was.
“Whatever happened, and you do not remember because of the amount of alcohol you consumed, what is clear is that what occurred did not mean that you were justified in any way for what you then did. You know that. You know that there is no excuse for what happened, but ask me to look at the other side of you.
“You walked away, smashed the bottle that you had in your hand then returned back and struck Mr Saggar in the face, causing those nasty lacerations to both his nose and the side of his forehead. He is somebody who will be left with a reminder as to what happened when he was struck in the face with a broken bottle.
“You are somebody that has got no previous convictions, but, more than that, can be properly described as a man of previous good character. The pre-sentence report sets out how you are remorseful and more about your background, the difficulties that you had as you were growing up and why you turned to alcohol to try to deal with that.
“It also sets out what you have tried to do since identifying that you have an alcohol addiction. Your mother has described how you have moved back in with her because of her failing mental and physical health. You are a carer for her.
“[One reference] describes you as being honest, hard working, reliable and someone who can be counted on to do the right thing. Unfortunately, you did not do the right thing on the 20th of September.
“This occurred in the busy city centre area, where there must have been a risk of further serious disorder. Set against that, there is substantial mitigation in your case. I accept your genuine remorse. I accept that this was an isolated incident.”