A Tipperary man who left an army veteran partially paralysed after attacking him with a samurai sword has lost an appeal to reduce his nine year sentence.

Liam McCarthy, with a former address at Churce Street, Cappawhite, was jailed last year after pleading guilty to assault causing serious harm to 49 year old Martin Butler during a brawl outside a pub in March 2012.

The court heard a relatively minor disagreement between two groups of men in a pub in Cappawhite turned into 'all out war' on the street outside.

Liam McCarthy left the brawl with a bloodied nose, armed himself with a samurai sword from a nearby house, returned and struck Martin Butler on the head with the weapon.

The blow fractured the victim's skull and inflicted a serious brain injury. Mr Butler collapsed conscious on the street following the assault. The army veteran is lucky to be alive but he has been left with lifelong injuries including partial paralysis and severely restricted speaking ability.

McCarthy received a 9 year jail sentence last year– and today lost an appeal against its severity.

His lawyers claimed there was an element of provocation to the assault but the court found McCarthy's savage reaction to his own superficial injuries was completely disproportionate and unjustified.