Enniskillen Courthouse
A 21-year-old Enniskillen man, who committed an unprovoked assault on someone he had never met before has been given a three month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months.
In the case heard at Enniskillen Magistrates Court the prosecutor outlined that on April 7, 2014 at 5.45pm the injured party had been sitting in the Lough Inn pub in Enniskillen having the drink.
A female was also in the pub enjoying a drink when the defendant, Kevin Williamson of Galliagh Park came into the premises.
He spoke to the female and started asking who had bought her a drink.
He then started behaving aggressively until the injured party said it was him who bought the woman the drink.
Williamson then came behind the injured party and started punching him.
The injured party tried to fight back, but was punched to the ground and Williamson continued to punch him.
The injured party suffered a cut to the left eye, swelling and bruising to the side of the face and a bruise on the back of the head.
The injured party told police he had no idea who had attacked him, or who the woman was, but Williamson was identified through CCTV footage.
During interview Williamson made no reply.
Defence barrister Heather Philips claimed Williams had mental health problems, including ADHD, and had a mild to moderate learning disorder and she told the court Williamson had seen no less than six psychiatrists.
In regards to the incident Ms Philips acknowledged the injured party may have seen it as an unprovoked attack, but explained it was rather a “misjudgement and misrepresentation of the situation from the defendant’s point of view.”
She told the court Williamson can act in an impulsive manner, but it was not his fault.
In mitigation Ms Philips said that her client had no previous entries on his record for assault save for one matter in 2011.
She said this incident fell at the lower end of the scale and asked the court to factor in the defendant’s mental health problems in any judgement.
District judge Bonita Boyle took into account all matters and was satisfied the custody threshold had been crossed.
She imposed the suspended sentence and ordered Williamson to pay £150 by way of compensation to the injured party.
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