Jason Haughey leaving Letterkenny Circuit Court to commence a six year sentence. (North West Newspix)
An innocent man who was viciously attacked when he refused a passer-by a cigarette in Letterkenny has spoken for the first time about his recovery.
Darragh Harvey suffered scarring to his face when he refused thug Jason Haughey, 26, a cigarette.
The well-known Letterkenny man had returned from America on holiday in April 2012 when his life changed forever.
He was out for a drink at Gallagher’s Hotel when Haughey, who has 42 previous convictions, slashed him with a knife when Darragh refused to give him a cigarette.
Darragh was rushed to Letterkenny General Hospital and later received extensive plastic surgery to his face.
Last night, in a brief statement, courageous Darragh told Donegal Daily that he had now put the shocking incident behind him.
“The support of my family, friends and community both here in America, and back home in Ireland, helped put this behind me some time ago,” he said.
And optimistic Darragh even added “I wish everyone a healthy and productive life.”
Meanwhile Haughey appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court this week charged with a series of charges including the assault on Darragh.
Judge John O’Hagan sentenced him to a total of seven years behind bars with the last year suspended.