The victim refused to serve the defendant any more alcohol
AN ENNISKILLEN man who assaulted a barman who refused to give him any more drink has been handed a four month suspended prison sentence when he appeared before Fermamagh Magistrates Court.
Eamon John Treacy (43) from Drumawill Gardens admitted the charge and was ordered to pay his victim £500 compensation for what the judge described as a ‘vicious assault’.
Around 6pm on April 19 police were called to Wetherspoons in Enniskillen to a report that a member of staff had been assaulted.
Police were told the victim had refused to sell the defendant any more alcohol, as he believed he was intoxicated, and this led to the defendant assaulting the bar man.
The defendant grabbed his victim by the throat and pushed him up against a window in the bar before punching him up to six times. As the victim was attempting to get away the defendant kicked him in the left thigh.
The defendant had left the bar by the time police arrived but he went to the police station the following day with his arm in a sling telling police he had assaulted a bar man the previous day who refused to sell him drink.
Garry Smyth, defending, said this was an unseemly incident involving an individual who had ‘significant issues with alcohol’.
Mr Smyth told the court the barman in question served the defendant one drink but then decided he was so drunk he shouldn’t be served anymore alcohol.
The solicitor said his client then was bought a drink by a friend of his and it was actually when the injured party went to remove this drink from the defendant that the assault took place.
The court heard the defendant is actively engaged with the Solace project, and Mr Smyth pointed out his client attended the police station the next day after the assault as a voluntary attender.
The defendant gave his details to police and told them he knew he had been involved in an incident, although he didn’t remember the full circumstances. Mr Smyth also pointed out to the court that the injuries suffered in his attack were superficial.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said this was a serious matter involving the assault of someone who was only doing their job.
Taking note that the defendant was availing of counselling he imposed a four month prison sentence, suspending this for two years.
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