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Lurgan man who punched female support worker ‘was in particularly bad mood that day’

He was given a conditional discharge but ordered to pay £500 to his victim whom he punched four times to the face leaving her with bruising and cut lip

Craigavon Magistrates Court

A Lurgan man who punched a female support worker four times to the face has been conditionally discharged and ordered to pay compensation of £500.

The 33-year-old’s barrister told court: “He would wish to apologise but cannot explain what went on, other than in the statement in which he stated he was in a particularly bad mood that day.”

Philip Collins, of Castle Lane Mews, pleaded guilty to common assault at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Prosecution outlined that on November 11, 2019, police received a report of an assault on Castle Lane Mews, Lurgan.

Upon arrival, officers were waved down by a female support worker, who stated that the defendant had punched her four times to the face.

The injured party was left with bruising to her head and a cut on the inside of her lip.

Collins was subsequently arrested and taken to Lurgan Custody for interview, and during this he made partial admissions to the offence.

Defence barrister Conor Lunny stated that the defendant had “no previous record” but had a “myriad of issues”.

He stated: “He would wish to apologise but cannot explain what went on, other than in the statement in which he stated he was in a particularly bad mood that day.

“This is nothing she did or could have done differently but this is not a man who is prone to violence.”

Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes handed Collins a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered that he pay compensation of £500 to the injured party.

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