THE OFF-DUTY GARDA who pleaded guilty to assaulting a man in Cork, after his victim described his brother’s shirt as “gay”, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Dean Foley had pleaded guilty two weeks ago to beating Stephen Gerard Murphy after a night out with his brother Travis on 12 September 2009, when the brothers began exchanging words with Murphy who then described Travis Murphy’s brightly-coloured top as “a gay shirt”.

Murphy was attacked getting into a taxi, and RTÉ News reports that he sustained bleeding on the brain, broken bones in his face, broken teeth and a broken nose.

Foley today apologised for his actions and accepted he had nobody else to blame.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin gave Foley an 18-month sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, but agreed to have the case re-entered to Cork Circuit Criminal Court tomorrow to hear other evidence which may see the sentenced reduced later.

Foley becomes the first Garda to be sentenced to time in prison since the Garda Ombudsman Commission was established four years ago.