Enniskillen Courthouse
A BELNALECK man has been jailed for seven months after he was convicted of knocking a man unconscious with one punch in an incident on St Patrick’s Day.
26-year-old Shane Quigley punched Seamus Gormley in the face following an altercation in The Diamond in Enniskillen earlier this year.
Mr Gormley had been out celebrating St Patrick’s Day when he was knocked unconscious by Quigley.
He was taken to South West Acute Hospital where he got four stitches to the inside of his mouth, two of his teeth had to be replaced as well as suffering cuts and bruises to his face.
Giving evidence in court, Mr Gormley said that he had been out since 6pm and was in Pat’s Bar and then the Crowe’s Nest.
He told the court that he had between six to seven pints and at around 2am he left and went to The Diamond for food and to find a taxi home.
It was alleged during court that Mr Gormley had been messing about with a friend when Quigley and his friend got involved and an argument ensued over chips.
The next thing the victim remembers was waking up in the back of an ambulance covered in blood and feeling dazed.
He was taken to SWAH for treatment and had to have a tooth replaced while the other broken tooth had to be repaired costing over £1,100.
The court then heard that had concussion for 16 days.
Under cross-examination by defence barrister Heather Philips, Mr Gormley rejected claims that he and his friend were being a nuisance by stealing food from other people.
Ms Philips claimed that Quigley had attempted to calm the two men down.
She said: “You squared up to him and he thought you were going to hit up so he put his arms up.”
However, a number of police officers were in The Diamond at the time when an officer spotted Quigley moving through the crowd and hitting Mr Gormley, describing it as a “deliberate blow”.
Quigley was arrested for the alleged offence and taken to Enniskillen police station. It was claimed that he told the officers: “I shouldn’t have got involved, he’s only knocked out. I hope he is OK.”
Giving evidence in court Quigley, who had been at Charlie’s Bar, claimed he raised his arms in self-defence in fear of being hit.
District Judge Nigel Broderick rejected Quigley’s claim that he acted in self-defence saying Mr Gormley evidence was credible and reliable.
He added: “All too often this court encounters cases of nights out where drinking is involved which can sometimes have fatal consequences. Recently the police ran a campaign to say that one strike can cause death.
“There are far too many people getting involved in pub brawls. It has significant consequences.”
He added that it was worrying a probation officer asses him as being highly likely of re-offending and risk of causing “serious harm”.
The court heard that Quigley has previously breached two previous suspended sentences.
He was jailed for seven months.
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