An Armagh man punched another man in the face in the presence of police officers after they were called to an altercation in the city.
Emmett John Paul Duffy, 45, of Navan Terrace, appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court – sitting in Newry – charged with a single count of common assault.
The prosecutor told the court that on Saturday, February 8, at approximately 3am, police received a report of people fighting in the rear garden of St Malachy’s Court in Armagh.
On arrival, police observed two men having an altercation which was brought under control.
While police were speaking with the resident of the property, Duffy punched him in the left side of the face.
Duffy was immediately arrested and the victim declined to make a formal statement or disclose what had been happening prior to police arrival.
Defence barrister Kevin O’Hare described the case as “straightforward enough”.
He said: “Mr Duffy had been out actually having a few drinks with the injured party. They went back to the [the injured party’s] house and had a few more drinks. There was a bit of an argument. Strangely, police observe [the assault].”
Mr O’Hare said it was 1998 since Duffy’s last assault and “2013 since his last conviction of any kind”.
District Judge Anne Marshall fined Duffy £200 along with the £15 offender levy. He was given 28 days to pay.
