A Newry man who assaulted his father following a verbal argument regarding his own intoxication has been sentenced to five months in prison.
Court heard that the 32-year-old punched the victim several times in the head and face, leaving him with a cut to his upper lip which required 11 stitches.
Ryan Hughes, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Newry Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn, on Wednesday, via videolink from Maghaberry.
This plea was offered after the charge was amended from one of grievous bodily harm.
Defence solicitor Gerard Trainor stated: “I would hope that your worship can deal with this today. Mr Hughes has been in custody now for four months and his record shows no previous entries for assault.”
This was confirmed by the prosecution who revealed that the defendant had 20 previous convictions; “mostly for obstructing police and disorderly behaviour matters”.
It was outlined, by the prosecution, that on March 13 at 4.40pm, police received a report from the injured party who stated his son, Hughes, had attended his home intoxicated and assaulted him.
The defendant’s father said that his son had punched him several times to the head and face after a verbal argument regarding his drunkenness.
As a result of this assault, Hughes’ father was left with a cut to his upper lip which required 11 stitches.
Mr Trainor stated: “There is no history of violence, his father actually withdrew the complaint and had wished to make a reconciliation.
“I ask that Mr Hughes is given maximum credit as he could have drawn this out to a trial, but he didn’t and is very apologetic to his father.”
Giving the defendant “full credit for his very early plea”, District Judge Amanda Henderson sentenced him to five months in prison.
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