Prisoner who bit off ear of cellmate jailed for four years

Olivia Kelleher

An inmate at Cork Prison who suffered a psychotic episode and bit off his cellmate’s ear has been jailed for four years.

Roman Becvár (29) appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing serious harm.

Judge Helen Boyle previously heard evidence in the case from Det Sgt Kieran O’Sullivan. He that the 45-year-old injured party had been sharing a cell with Mr Becvár for a week without incident when the unprovoked attack occurred.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan stated that shortly before 10pm on April 9th, 2023, Mr Becvár asked his cellmate if he had any tobacco.

“He (the injured party) was about to go asleep. He remembered Mr Becvár asking him for tobacco. He did not have any. The next thing he remembers is Mr Becvár banging on the inside door of the cell.

"Prison staff entered. They discovered the injured party lying on the cell floor in a pool of blood. Roman Becvár was standing against the back wall of the cell with his hands up, blood on his hands and clothing.

"There was a nurse who was on the scene almost immediately. As he attended to the injured party he located the ear in the blood on the floor.”

Det Sgt O’Sullivan said that the injured party was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment. It was not possible to re attach his ear and he has chosen not to have a prosthesis. He also suffered cheekbone and jaw bone fractures in the incident.

Mr Becvár had blood on his hands and clothing. He had injuries on his knuckles consistent with having assaulted a person.

The accused, who is a Czech national, has four previous convictions which arose from an incident of aggravated burglary in 2023. He required a translator in court as he lacks proficiency in English.

Defence counsel Elizabeth O’Connell, SC, said that when Mr Becvár entered custody his psychiatric history was not elicited by prison staff. Nor did he provide it. The accused should have been on anti psychotic medication for his schizophrenia.

She said that her client “does not understand why it happened.” She added that but for the psychotic episode the assault would not have occurred.

The court heard that Mr Becvár worked in a farm in Kerry having been brought to this country in a “trafficked manner.”

Judge Boyle was told that once the accused was put on anti psychotic medication, there were no further problems. However, he remains in solitary confinement in prison.

Judge Boyle noted that the injured party suffered the total loss of an ear as well as fractures to his face. He also required a skin graft in the area where the ear was ripped off.

She described the disfigurement suffered by the injured party as “substantial” in nature.

“According to his plastic surgeon he (the injured party) will never have a normal ear again. The shape of his face has also been altered.

It has permanently altered his ability, his appearance and his confidence.”

Judge Boyle stated that she recognised the emotional as well as physical toll the “permanent disfigurement” has had on the victim.

However, Judge Boyle said that culpability in the case was somewhat reduced by the fact that Mr Becvár was not being given medication for his serious psychiatric illness at the time of the offence.

“I am satisfied that that psychotic episode was a result of your schizophrenia.”

Taking the early plea into consideration, Judge Boyle jailed Mr Becvár for four years and six months suspending the last six months of the sentence.