Assaulted a man in hospital

Steven James Gill, of DeBurgh Square, pleaded guilty to common assault on October 8, last year.

Londonderry Magistrates Court was told that Gill and the injured party has gone to the hospital with significant injuries sustained earlier that night.

However, while there the 21 year-old punched the man again,.

It was revealed Gill is currently subject to a suspended sentence for assaulting police.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that the incident was “entirely fuelled by drink” and when the 21 year-old met the injured party again in the hospital he punched him once in the face.

He urged the court not to activate the suspended sentence and to allow Gill “the opportunity to give something back to the community”.

Ordering the defendant to complete 200 hours community service, Deputy District Judge Peter King said there was “some sort of poetic justice” that Gill had come off worse in the earlier incident between the two men.

He said the fact Gill continued the argument in the hospital was a “gravely aggravating factor” and “custody is entirely appropriate”.

However, the judge said that would cost the public purse money and imposed the community service order as a “direct alternative to custody”.