‘Drunken argument between relatives’ results in Co Tyrone man getting suspended sentence
A Co Tyrone man was given a two-month suspended jail sentence for what a District Judge described as “a drunken argument between relatives”.
Twenty-nine-year-old James McDonagh from Sydney Lane, Aughnacloy, admitted a charge of assault on October 30.
Dungannon Magistrates Court was told on Friday that police received a report from a third party about the incident.
Prosecuting counsel said the defendant had started an argument with the injured party and punched him around the head causing him to fall to the ground.
He said the injured party sustained grazing and bruising to the body as a result.
A defence lawyer said McDonagh, who appeared in court by video link from Maghaberry Prison, has spent a week in custody following the dispute.
Suspending the jail sentence for 18 months, District Judge Francis Rafferty remarked the assault was aggravated by domestic abuse.
He warned McDonagh not to be assaulting relatives when he was drinking.