Coleraine man given suspended sentence

Ian Jason Kennedy (20) of Newmills Road appeared at North Antrim Magistrates' Court last Wednesday to answer the charges following an incident in Portstewart on April 16 last year.

The court heard that the police were called to an assault in the Diamond area of the town before midnight. When they arrived they found the injured party on the ground with a laceration over one eye.

Witnesses told the officers that the assailants had ran down an alleyway, where officers later found the defendant and his co-accused. Both men were arrested but were too intoxicated to be interviewed.

They were re-interviewed on May 23 and Kennedy told officers that he and a co-accused had been watching football before going to catch a bus home. However they missed the bus and instead they bought a carry out which they consumed in an alleyway close to the bus stop.

As they made their way back to the bus stop they saw the injured party. Kennedy asked him what he was laughing at and approached him.

The defendant said he saw the injured party clenching his fist so he struck out at him hitting him three or four times. Kennedy denied kicking the man on the ground.

Defence told the court that the incident was drink related and that Kennedy had made a full admission.

District Judge, Richard Wilson, suspended the custodial sentence for two years and ordered the defendant to pay 500 in compensation.