Builder attacked ex-employee over machinery hire bill

Builder attacked ex-employee over machinery hire bill

A BUILDING contractor has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence after being convicted of assaulting a former worker during a dispute about the hiring of plant machinery.

Thirty nine year-old Patrick Joseph Thomas Flynn is set to appeal his conviction after he was found guilty of assaulting Christopher Cleary at Flynn’s former family home in Darragh Cross on April 22 last year.

Mr. Cleary told the court that he was outside the house in Darragh Cross where he had called to see Flynn’s brother. He was speaking to a friend on his mobile phone at around 5.15pm when Flynn, of Comber Road, Dundonald, drove into the yard in a work van.

Mr. Cleary, who had laboured for Flynn on building sites at weekends,

said the defendant ordered him to come off his mobile phone.

He said he then aggressively accused him of hiring a teleporter in his name although Mr. Cleary said the equipment had been hired by another of his employers.

“He demanded money, he became aggressive and told me he would get the money some way,” he said.

“I told him it was my ex-employer who was responsible for the money. He hit me with his right fist on the left side of my face.

“I fell to the ground and he got into his van and drove off.”

Mr. Cleary told the court he needed nine stitches for a facial wound following the assault.

Mr. Flynn denied the assault and told the court it was impossible he had been at the Darragh Cross house at the time because he was working until 5pm in Carrickfergus on that day.

He said the van that Mr. Cleary claimed he had been driving had been with a mechanic getting repaired.

However, Mr. Flynn acceded there had been an issue over the hire of a teleporter and claimed it had been hired by Mr. Cleary and returned without payment.

After the contest at Downpatrick District Court Deputy District Judge Gerry Trainor said the overarching issue in the case was the hiring of the teleporter.

“It is clear there was an issue with the teleporter between him and the injured party,” he said.

“I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt the defendant assaulted the injured party in the manner described.”

After Flynn was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to pay compensation to Mr. Cleary of £1,000, bail was fixed for appeal.