A man who “lost the run of himself” in a family dispute and made threats to kill has been handed a suspended period of imprisonment.
Sentencing the 33-year-old, the deputy district judge said: “This was a family dispute which ended in a way it shouldn’t have. Families can be trying on some occasions.”
Thomas Noel Maughan, with an address at Moira Road in Glenavy, pleaded guilty to threats to kill, threats to damage property and disorderly behaviour at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry.
None of the facts in the case were opened, but the particulars outline that the offences took place on July 17, of this year, in the Callanbridge Park area of the city.
Defence barrister Kevin O’Hare informed the court that the incident arose following issues between his client’s wife and that of the injured party, who were sisters.
He submitted that “all issues have since cooled” but Maughan admitted that his behaviour was not acceptable.
Deputy District Judge Des Perry commented that the defendant had “lost the run of himself”.
Mr O’Hare accepted that his client had a “relevant record” but added that it was not “particularly prolific” in recent years.
Deputy District Judge Perry said: “This was a family dispute which ended in a way it shouldn’t have. Families can be trying on some occasions.
“Making a threat to kill or damage property is the easiest thing to do….the subsequent events show that it did not have the weight which could have been attributed at the outset.”
Maughan was sentenced to two months in prison suspended for 12 months.
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