Noel Gallagher Victim Of Loutish Violence

It is important for the judge hearing the case of assault causing bodily harm involving Daniel Sullivan, the man who viciously attacked the Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher during a Toronto concert in 2008, not to let the band's bad-boy reputation stand in the way of an appropriate sentence.

Drunkenness is an inadequate excuse for that loutish violence, and whatever the "significant emotional distress" - to use his lawyer's words - suffered since by Mr. Sullivan, who was age 47, after all, not 17, it is surely not worse than that inflicted on his victim.

As the band performed one of its hits, (What's The Story) Morning Glory, Mr. Gallagher was shoved violently from behind, collapsing into monitor speakers. He was left with three broken ribs and pain from which he still suffers from time to time. In a victim impact statement, Mr. Gallagher said it was akin to being "hit by a bus." The band was forced to cancel several concerts and television appearances, affecting the promotion of a new album.

A video of the attack posted on YouTube received a mass audience, and Mr. Sullivan gained a certain notoriety. He has pleaded guilty, and is a first-time offender, which should be weighed in the judge's decision. But the conditional sentence requested by Mr. Sullivan's lawyer is insufficient, and might encourage others to follow in his path.

Despite the best efforts of crowd control and the presence of security personnel, performers are in a particularly exposed and vulnerable position. A jail sentence, even less than the six to eight months sought by the Crown, would send an important message.

Source: www.theglobeandmail.com