Enniskillen Magistrates Court heard on Monday that at 1.30am on August 20th 2015, police on mobile patrol at Townhall Street in Enniskillen were alerted to CCTV of two males fighting on the roadside outside The Bush Bar. 

When they arrived at the scene they found one of the men restraining the defendant, Curtis Mulholland, who was extremely aggressive and unco-operative. The court heard that the defendant began swinging at police and said he would “f***ing kill police”. He then kicked at a police radio being worn by one of the officers, resulting in £866 of damage. Mullholland refused to calm down and swore throughout the incident. 

Police were then approached by a woman who claimed that she had been assaulted by the defendant. She told them Mulholland had swung at her and struck her in the left side of her face, causing her to fall and hit her head against the door of the pub. The officer noted that she had a lump on her head consistent with an assault.

Mulholland was arrested and during a search, he was found to be carrying 10 cannabis deal bags and five bags containing cannabis. Mulholland, of Nutfield Road, Gortacharn, Lisnaskea was charged with unlawfully assaulting a female, disorderly behaviour in a public place, assault on a police constable, resisting police, criminal damage to the police radio and possession of cannabis. 

When questioned about the incident, the defendant said he couldn’t remember anything as he was “extremely drunk” and didn’t know the assault victim. 

Defence barrister Dessie Hutton told the court that his client had been diagnosed with autism and had difficulties interacting with others which had led to increased substance use. 

“Otherwise he is a very serious minded young man who is currently a student and plans to be a civil engineer,” Mr Hutton added. 

District Judge Nigel Broderick described the assault on the woman, who “had done absolutely nothing” as “very serious and brutal”.

Addressing Mulholland, he said: “You lashed out at the first person you came across.”

The judge imposed a four month sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered him to pay compensation totalling £550 to his victims. After Mr Hutton raised questions about the value of the police radio, a decision on the criminal damage charge was adjourned until March 20th for further clarity.