Magherafelt man threw stones at 'multiple' business and commercial properties in town
A Magherafelt man who threw rocks at “multiple” business and commercial properties and damaged cars in the town centre area, has been placed on Probation for 14 months.
John O'Neill, aged 31, of Laurelbrook, was also ordered to pay compensation totalling £539 arising out of three charges of criminal damage and two counts of attempted criminal damage on dates in March, 2023.
Passing sentence, District Judge Conor Heaney told the defendant that despite his legal counsel's best efforts, the court was “not much the wiser as to why you acted in the way you did”.
The judge warned O'Neill that if he failed to comply with the Probation Order, or breached it in any way, the court would actively consider a custodial sentence.
Prosecuting counsel told Magherafelt Magistrates Court that in the early hours of March 20, 2023, police were made aware by a member of the public of a male throwing rocks at multiple windows of premises in the town, including a charity shop.
She said there were also reports of damage to a number of parked cars at Hospital Road, and police issued a press release to get information that would identify the person responsible.
Counsel explained O'Neill was later arrested and gave a mixture of “no admission and no comment” during a police interview.
When asked by Judge Heaney if the prosecution had a figure for compensation, the lawyer said she only had one for £139 relating to excess car insurance.
She said she did not have any other figures and invited the court to assess the amount of compensation.
A defence lawyer described it as “a very strange case” as O'Neill is captured on high quality CCTV walking around Magherafelt throwing rocks and small stones at three shop fronts in the early hours of the morning after alcohol had been consumed.
He said the defendant is an intelligent young man with a degree in business studies who has plans to begin a post graduate business course in September.
Counsel explained that he was experiencing a number of difficulties at the time, including a £8,000 debt and this was “having an impact on him”.
He said O’Neill was referred for anxiety and depression counselling, and he had lost his job which caused him to “turn towards thinking that was not very helpful”.