A Lurgan man who was involved in a family “street brawl” has been handed a suspended sentence.
The 27-year-old’s solicitor told court his client “would say that he was more of a victim in this incident but accepts his involvement”.
Robert Duffy, of James Street, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour at Craigavon Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn on Wednesday, via videolink from his solicitor’s office.
Prosecution outlined that on March 27, at 4pm, police received a report of a fight between numerous members of the defendant’s family on James Street in Lurgan.
Duffy alleged that he had been assaulted during what prosecution described as a “street brawl”.
All the family members were arrested and taken to Lurgan Custody Suite, where the defendant admitted to his involvement.
Defence solicitor Pearse MacDermott stated: “Mr Duffy would say that he was more of a victim in this incident but accepts his involvement.
“Since this incident he has not been able to have contact with his family or children for a period of two and a half months, which is already quite a penalty.”
It was revealed to the court that the defendant had been handed a suspended sentence in June 2018 for another offence of disorderly behaviour.
District Judge Amanda Henderson stated: “Given his record I do feel that this crosses the custody threshold, but I am not going to impose the current suspended sentence.”
Duffy was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for a period of two years for the offence before the court.
