Man used golf club in attack

Barry Doherty, Dunross, Culdaff and Ashley Nichol, Bocan, Culdaff were sentenced to three years and two years imprisonment, respectively, for the assault, which took place on September 22, 2012.

The court heard how the injured party, Kenneth McFarland, had been in Gleneely celebrating his daughter’s christening, had stopped for fuel and it was after he set off again that his car was hit and when he got out he was struck with a golf club.

Judge John O’Hagan referred to the previous records of both men, adding they had both been given a chance by the courts through community service. He pointed out while there were guilty pleas Doherty was considered by the probation service at high risk of reoffending.

He sentenced him to three years in prison for assault, with the last six months suspended and two years for possession of an offensive weapon, to run concurrently. He sentenced Nichol to two years for possession of an offensive weapon, two years for criminal damage, six months for dangerous driving, all to run concurrently and took a charge of driving while disqualified into account.