Court told man assaulted two neighbours after they taunted his mother

A Dollingstown man assaulted two of his mother’s neighbours whom he claimed had been verbally abusive to her, a court has heard.

The 35-year-old’s solicitor told court: “This is a man who has turned his life around since 2010. He is now a business owner, he owns three shops which sell supplements to gym goers.”

Stephen Creaney, 35, of Regency Mews, pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault and driving without due care or attention at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Prosecution outlined that on March 11, 2018, the defendant had gone to visit his mother at Sinton Park, Tandragee.

The court was told that as he pulled up to the address, a male began shouting abuse at him and his mother. There had been trouble for a number of years between Creaney’s mother and her neighbours.

A second male then joined in and the defendant, at this point, ran at this man and threw a punch which did not land, before more people then joined in.

Creaney got his mother in his car and tried to make off, but court was told his path was blocked by the male who had first been abusive towards his mother and this man’s brother.

The first male placed his hands on the bonnet of the defendant’s car, it was stated, and Creaney asked him to move out of the way but he refused.

The defendant then pushed the male out of the way with his vehicle.

Defence solicitor Kevin McCamley stated: “This has been ongoing for some time. The defendant had got his mother into the car after he had gone to pick her up to celebrate Mother’s Day.

“There had been times in the past when these individuals had gone into her garden and destroyed ornaments. They got in the car but these individuals continued to taunt them.”

He continued: “He threw a punch which didn’t land, which is a technical assault. The second he made very slight contact with the second male – bear in mind the people who had gathered around his car.

“This is a man who has turned his life around since 2010. He is now a business owner, he owns three shops which sell supplements to gym goers.”

Creaney was handed eight penalty points and was ordered to pay a fine of £400, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 20 weeks.

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