A 23-year-old man has been ordered to pay his debt to society through community service after a violent attack on another male on a night out.
Matthew Kennedy of Main Street in Tempo appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with assault causing harm.
The court heard that the incident occurred on Tempo’s Main Street at 2am on 26th August last when Kennedy pushed his victim to the ground and kicked him in the face.
The injured party ended up with six staples in his head and stitches under his eye following the attack.
Defence solicitor Niall Bogue said his client had fully admitted his guilt in police interviews but while he had no recollection of events, he had accepted what others had told him had happened.
Mr Bogue told the court: “On the night in question, my client had been socialising in Tempo and had too much to drink. Remarks were made which angered the defendant and he left the bar and lashed out.”
Deputy District Judge Paul Conway said the injured party had been an “unprovoked victim” who was left lying on the ground and kicked in the face. Sentencing Kennedy, he said:
“This wholly innocent person was attacked in a brutal manner, kicked in the face after being pushed to the ground.
“He suffered cuts and abrasions but it was very lucky that there were no spinal injuries caused or that he wasn’t killed outright by breaking his neck or suffering a spinal injury. You are very lucky not to find yourself in the Crown Court facing a manslaughter charge.”
The judge warned Kennedy, “If you had any previous convictions you would be going to the cells and that is the only thing keeping you out of custody this time around. I am treating this as a one-off albeit extremely aggressive, violent and unprovoked attack.”
Noting that Kennedy worked as a joiner and handyman, the judge ordered him to put his skills to good use for the community by sentencing him to 200 hours community service and ordering him to pay £600 compensation to the injured party.
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