A man who assaulted another male at an Armagh hostel has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
The 32-year-old’s barrister told court: “This was a dispute with another resident, there was some degree of provocation but the defendant accepts he went above and beyond.”
Colin David Hawthorne, of no fixed abode, appeared for sentencing on assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Armagh Magistrates’ last Tuesday.
Defence barrister Kevin O’Hare informed the court that the defendant had breached his licensing and had a release date of Christmas Day, this year.
Prosecution outlined that on July 28, at 12.35am, police received a report of an assault at the Linenhall Street Hostel in Armagh.
Officers spoke to the injured party, who had a cut above his left which appeared to have been swollen. He said the defendant had assaulted him.
Staff confirmed to police that the defendant had assaulted the injured party in the dining room.
Hawthorne was subsequently arrested for the offence.
Mr O’Hare stated: “This was a plea at the earliest opportunity. Mr Hawthorne does have a record but it is predominantly for acts of dishonesty.
“This was a dispute with another resident, there was some degree of provocation but the defendant accepts he went above and beyond.”
District Judge Paul Copeland said: “Mr Hawthorne, you have now invoked an enhanced sentence, you have a record which shows a propensity for offences of aggressive conflict and assault.”
The defendant was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years.
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