Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH03
A BALLYCASSIDY man who threw a hot drink at and punched a man he had “bad blood” with following a night out has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Richard Patrick (27) of Laragh Lee, Ballycassidy appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday after pleading guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm on a previous sitting of the court. Sentencing had been adjourned to allow a pre-sentence report to be carried out.
The charge arose out of an incident on July 26 last year, when Patrick assaulted Conor Woods at the 24-hour petrol station on Queen Street in Enniskillen.
Mr Woods told police he had been in the shop at the petrol station at around 3am when he was approached by Patrick, who shouted verbal abuse at him. When he left the shop he said Patrick followed him and threw a hot drink at him, before beginning to punch him. Woods told police he punched him back once in the face in self-defence.
Mr Woods suffered bruising to his face and a 2cm cut about his left eye-brow, which needed four stitches, in the incident. He told police there were no witnesses to the assault, but that there had been a number of people present, however these people would not assist in the investigation. Mr Woods also told police there had been “bad blood” between himself and Patrick.
Patrick, who had a relevant previous record, told police Mr Woods had followed him out of the shop, and was being verbally abusive and provocative towards him. The defendant told police he and Mr Woods had begun fighting at the same time.
Defence solicitor Julie Cooper, who said Patrick had expressed deep remorse at the incident, told the court both men had been out in Enniskillen that night and had gone to the 24 hour shop. She said that, “in hindsight”, Patrick now realised he should have not engaged with Mr Woods. She said Patrick’s sister had come to collect him and he knows he “should’ve just got into the car and left.”
Ms Cooper added Patrick had not intended to throw his hot drink at Mr Woods, and that the cup had slipped out of his hand.
Referring to the pre-sentence report, Ms Cooper pointed out that probation services had determined Patrick was of low likelihood of reoffending. She said Patrick was the father of two young children and had recently started his own haulage firm with funding from the Prince’s Trust and, as his wife was on maternity leave, the family relied on his income.
District Judge Benita Boyd said Patrick lost some credit as he had only entered a guilty plea on the day he had previously intended on contesting the case. She said the offence did pass the threshold for custody, but in light of the report and Ms Cooper’s comments she would instead give him a suspended sentence.
Judge Boyd sentenced Patrick to three months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere