An intoxicated renovator who attacked Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher on a Toronto concert stage was sentenced Wednesday to 12 months house arrest.
Daniel Sullivan of Pickering eluded security, ran on stage and pushed Gallagher from behind during the Virgin Music Festival in September 2008.
Gallagher broke three ribs when he fell against a speaker and Oasis was forced to cancel concerts in Paris and New York.
“Severe intoxication is the only plausible explanation for behaviour that makes no other sense,” Justice Richard Schneider said.
“It is clear we will have no conclusive answer as to what precipitated this event.”
Schneider also ordered Sullivan to abstain from alcohol for 12 months.
In November, Sullivan, 48, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm.
Sullivan’s lawyer, John Collins, characterized his client as “the quintessential first offender,” a man of otherwise good character, who has accepted full responsibility for his actions, is ashamed of what he has done, and is profoundly sorry for his actions.”
A pre-sentence report depicted Sullivan’s background as “unremarkable.” It said he “doesn’t have a history of difficulties with alcohol, drugs, violence or any mental health issues.”
Sullivan, who has been married for 20 years and has three young children, always has been gainfully employed and participates in a small theatre group and with his son’s soccer team, court heard.
Sullivan apologized Wednesday to Gallagher and the court. He declined to comment afterward, saying he is being sued, along with the concert promoters and a private security company, for $2.1 million by Gallagher. A claim has been issued in Ontario.
The judge permitted Sullivan to go to work, attend medical appointments and shop once a week. But the judge rejected Sullivan’s request to attend his theatre group and his son’s soccer games.
Gallagher said in a victim impact statement that it felt like he’d been “hit by a bus,” needed months of rehabilitation and is still in pain.
Crown attorney Ruth Kleinhenz sought up to nine months in jail, saying Sullivan’s crime is “too serious for a conditional sentence to be considered.”
“Mere intoxication cannot explain the event and that perhaps it was driven by a need for ‘15 minutes of fame.’ This deliberate act should be seen as more serious than one derived from mere drunkenness,” said Schneider in summing up the Crown’s view.
Source: www.torontosun.com
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