A GRANDFATHER smashed a woman in the face with a glass during a row over a woman bringing her dog into a pub.

Andrew Mulraney, aged 47, became angry after his partner had a drink thrown over her during a night out at the Cotton Tree pub in Prince Street, Halliwell, Bolton Crown Court heard.

So he retaliated by throwing his own drink over his partner’s assailant, following it up by hitting her in the face with the glass, which broke on impact.

Rachel Widdecombe, prosecuting, said Dawn Barrie suffered a deep cut over her left eye which needed six stitches.

The injury has left a scar and Ms Barrie still has problems with her eyesight.

Mulraney, of Spinning Meadow, Brownlow Fold, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

Recorder Mark Ainsworth heard how Mulraney and his partner, Alison Brownlee, had gone to the Cotton Tree pub on November 15 last year for a night out.

But a row developed when Ms Brownlee objected to another customer, Ms Barrie, bringing her dog into the premises.

The court was told that during the argument Ms Barrie threw a drink at Ms Brownlee.

“I can well understand how outraged you were to see that happen,” Recorder Ainsworth told Mulraney.

“But that does not begin to justify what happened.”

Mulraney threw his own drink at Ms Barrie and then hit her in the face with the glass.

Duncan Phillips, defending, said: “It was a second in which he did something completely out of character.”

He added that Mulraney, who was of previous good character, has now cut down on his drinking and has not returned to the pub since.

Recorder Ainsworth said it was a tragedy to see him standing in the dock and said there was a degree of provocation in the assault.

He sentenced him to 10 months in prison and Mulraney wept as the recorder told him the jail term would be suspended for 12 months.

“It is clear you are deeply ashamed about what happened, as well you should be,” Recorder Ainsworth told him.

Mulraney must also do 150 hours unpaid work, is banned from entering the Cotton Tree pub for 12 months and was ordered to pay Ms Barrie £1,500 compensation and £1,000 costs.