A Sinn Féin councillor has been ordered to pay €7,500 to his ex-wife’s boyfriend for knocking his front teeth out following a party in 2017.

Dermot Richardson of Tymon Hall Grove, Tallaght, Dublin initially claimed he was acting in self-defence before pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.

On March 11th 2017, 53-year-old Dermot Richardson, a Sinn Féin Councillor with South Dublin County Council, attended a party at a pub in Tallaght to celebrate his granddaughter’s christening.

His ex-wife and her new partner Tony Greene were also there.

They went home just after 11pm and a short time later, she received texts from her ex to say nobody else was allowed to stay in the family home.

Witnesses described hearing a bang at the door just before midnight and Councillor Richardson entered the house.

A row broke out between him and his ex-wife, during which he headbutted and punched Mr Greene, knocking his two front teeth out. A third tooth also had to be extracted.

In his Victim Impact Statement, Mr Greene said he'll have to wear three false teeth for the rest of his life and is extremely conscious of his appearance as a result.

Cllr Richardson apologised in court today and brought €2,000 in as compensation.

Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-and-a-half year fully suspended sentence and ordered him to hand over an extra €5,500 to his victim.

Reporting from Frank Greaney