Pub landlord consigned to 'death of silence' by drunk's act of thuggery

BRAIN INJURY HAS LEFT ‘LOVING FATHER’ UNABLE TO MOVE OR TALK

- By JOEL MOORE

A PUB landlord will likely spend the rest of his life in a nursing home after his skull was shattered with a single punch by a drunken customer he tried to get to leave.

Ronald Eyre, 68, suffered a “catastrophic brain injury” in the assault at the Hammer and Wedge Club, in East Lane, Edwinstowe, in the early hours of Sunday, January 19.

His attacker, Juraj Argay, 37, had earlier been bragging about being a bare-knuckle fighter and challenged others to an arm wrestle, Nottingham Crown Court was told.

At his sentencing yesterday, Mr Eyre’s family said they had lost him to a “death of silence”, with the grandad still unable to move, talk, or even be aware of his surroundings.

Argay, of Clipstone Road, Edwinstowe, was out drinking with his partner at the pub, which had been run by Mr Eyre and partner Claire Blacknell for almost 25 years.

The court was told the defendant was at first chatting to other customers and offering to buy rounds, but became increasingly drunk and boisterous.

He bragged about how strong he was and challenged people to arm wrestles, claiming he was a bare-knuckle fighter and that he would take on anyone for money.

He left the pub with his partner but decided to return after they had an argument.