Man carried out an unprovoked attack on customer standing in queue in Spar shop, Lisburn court hears
A man has been sentenced to five months in prison following an unprovoked attack on another man in a shop in Dunmurry.
Stephen Vincent Sweeney, 52, whose address was given as Lower Windsor Avenue in Belfast, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The court heard that on Saturday November 1, 2025 at 7pm the defendant entered the Spar in Dunmurry.
The injured party was in the queue to pay for petrol and had his back to the defendant.
It was stated that the defendant punched the injured party to the side of his face and continued to kick and punch him when he was on the ground.
The incident was captured on CCTV.
The defendant was arrested and made full admission to the offence during interview.
A defence lawyer told the court it was “completely uncalled for and unjustified”.
He continued: “He throws himself on the mercy of the court. He is completely remorseful.”
District Judge Rosie Watters noted that the defendant has 91 previous convictions for a “real variety of types of offences”.
During sentencing Ms Watters said: “It is serious because he attacked a man who didn’t see it coming.
"It is completely unacceptable. The court has to mark this as a serious offence."
Sentencing the defendant to five months in prison, as well as an offender’s levy of £25, Ms Watters told the defendant: “You attacked him and it was completely unprovoked.
"You could be facing much, much more serious charges.”
The defence lawyer sought leave to appeal the sentence. Ms Watters granted leave to appeal, setting bail at £500.