Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH04
AN Enniskillen man who assaulted his flatmate, then broke his window when he was living in another flat, has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Paul Moran (35) of Derrin Park appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday for sentencing for two counts of common assault and one count of possession of cannabis, and criminal damage.
The charges date to two separate occasions last year.
The first set of incidents related to March last year when police were called to Moran’s flat after two incidents with his then flatmate.
The flatmate told police that on March 13 they had been sitting watching TV when the defendant came over, headbutted him, and left the flat.
Then, the following day on March 14, the flatmate was lying in bed when Moran came in and kicked him in the back. The flatmate told police he was left with a sore back, but the court heard there was no visible sign of injury.
Moran was later arrested and charged with common assault. In a subsequent search of his flat police found a small amount of herbal cannabis.
When he was interviewed, Moran said the incident was “hazy” due to his drug use.
The second incident took place on August 4. At approximately 8.55am police received reports that a window of a living room of a property in Derrin Park had been broken.
The home was below Moran’s flat, and was occupied by his former flatmate, who also reported seeing Moran standing outside the window “ranting and raving.”
Moran was located by police at 9.40am in the area and was taken straight to hospital for assessment where he was immediately admitted.
When he was interviewed on a later date Moran admitted to breaking the window, which resulted in £68 damage to the Housing Executive, and explained the person living in the house, who was the same injured party from the first set of offences, had been making loud noises he could hear in his upstairs flat.
Defence solicitor Niall Bogue said Moran suffered with mental health difficulties and both incidents had stemmed from a dispute he had with his former flatmate.
He added Moran now had his own home and his health was in better condition than at the time of the incidents.
District Judge Nigel Broderick asked why, if he was settled and in better health, Moran had not cooperated with probation services. Mr Bogue explained Moran had only recently obtained accommodation, in the past month, and had been living a “changeable lifestyle” previously.
The solicitor pointed out Moran’s last previous conviction dated to 2014.
Stating he wanted to “leave something hanging over his head”, Judge Broderick sentenced Moran to five months in prison, suspended for two years. He also ordered him to pay £68 in compensation for the broken window.
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