Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH04
A JUDGE has warned a defendant that there will be no second chances for him if he appears in court again on assault charges.
Brian Cassidy (37) with addresses at Sally’s Wood, Irvinestown and the Simon Community, Central Avenue in Bangor was charged with assaulting his wife Nuala Cassidy and step-daughter Nicole Carleton on August 28th last.
Taking to the witness stand, Cassidy, who had been contesting the charges told the court that on the evening in question, he has was home with the two injured parties and having a few drinks after his daughter’s christening.
“I got up to fill a glass and fell backwards as the heels of my shoes got caught in the back of the car causing me to hit Nicole. She started to cry and I said that I was sorry but my wife just charged at me and hit me before her mum came in and stopped it.”
The court heard that Cassidy was asked to leave the house and went to a neighbour’s home before he was arrested by police and taken to Enniskillen Police Station. In court the prosecution put it to Cassidy that he had grabbbed his wife when asked to leave and refused to go before standing up and headbutting her. An audio recording of her 999 call to police was played during the hearing.
Under questioning by the prosecution, Cassidy was asked why when interviewed by police, he had refused to answer questions in relation to the incident and not taken the opportunity to explain himself. Cassidy replied that he had not wanted to get his wife into trouble, adding that he did not know why the charges had been brought against him as they were “not true”.
Deputy District Judge Neil Rafferty told Cassidy that he had found his evidence “unconvincing and wholly untrue.
“You are twisting this and I simply did not believe one word. I do believe that a drunken assault took place that night. When far too much drink is taken that is when there is a problem. You can either hide from the truth or behave like a man. I’m just about not going to send you to prison. If you ever raise your hand to these women again, I will be here. You have had a head start with domestic violence and there will be no second chances.”
Cassidy was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for three years.
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