TWO Inishowen cousins
have been given suspended jail terms for assaulting a young Derry man who suffered a
broken jaw.
Marius Noone, Tornabratley, Clonmany and Daniel
Noone of Ard Cloontagh, Clonmany appeared at
Buncrana District Court where they pleaded guilty to
assaulting Niall McCullagh of 44 Glenedra Road,
Feeny, Co Derry.
The court heard that Mr McCullagh, his girlfriend
and a male friend travelled to Liberty's nightclub,
Buncrana, on October 17, 2009.
On the dancefloor, Mr McCullagh was approached by
three men who were unknown to him and a "scuffle
broke out", the court was told. The four were
ejected from the nightclub and a fracas continued in
the lane outside. The court heard that Mr McCullagh,
a 22 year old construction worker, was knocked to
the ground. He told investigators he tried to get up
but wasn't able and he remembers nothing after that.
He was detained overnight for treatment at
Altnagelvin Hospital. His jaw was broken in four
places and had to be wired up for 12 weeks, the
court heard.
Judge Kelly said he presumed the injured party had
had to "eat through a straw" for the three months.
Defence solicitor, Paudge Dorrian, said his clients
were identified through CCTV images and "good
detective work". "People can get very heated and
very difficult with drink taken," said Mr Dorrian.
Judge Kelly was told that Marius Noone had since
emigrated to America for work and would not be
coming back. Neither of the cousins had previous
convictions. Both their fathers were present in
court.
Marius Noone was given a two-month jail term
suspended on condition he enter a bond of good
behaviour and keep the peace for a period of two
years. He was also fined €1,000 and given six months
to pay. Daniel Noone was given a three-month prison
sentence suspended for two years under the same
terms. |
