Good Samaritan in court for assaulting woman’s attacker

Good Samaritan in court for assaulting woman’s attacker

30 April 2014

A DRUMANESS man, who went to the aid of a “damsel in distress” has appeared in court for assault.

Twenty one year-old Lee Rice rushed to help a woman when he saw her being assaulted by a man in Ballynahinch on November 3 last year, Downpatrick Court was told on Thursday.

However, after Rice intervened the assailant was found by police lying unconscious with shoe marks on his face which matched the shoes being worn by Rice.

Ride, of Shanvally Way, admitted assault when he appeared in the court.

A prosecution lawyer explained that Rice intervened in a dispute between the woman and her partner and knocked the man unconscious.

Defence barrister Mr. Noel Dillon said it was a case of “excessive self-defence” on the part of his client.

He said that Rice had seen the man assaulting a woman, so he went over and intervened on her behalf. He then phoned the police to come and assist the woman, who turned out to be the man’s partner at the time.

It was at that point the man started to attack Rice, so Rice assaulted him in self-defence and went “too far in all the circumstances.”

“This is very unfortunate,” Mr. Dillon said.

Deputy District Judge Neil Rafferty said Rice intervened to “protect the damsel in distress.”

“What you did that night initially is something that I hope any man would do,” Mr. Rafferty told Rice. “I would hope that any man seeing a woman being assaulted or abused in public would intervene.”

“After that you went too far,” he said, adding that the pre-sentence report in this case showed Rice to be “an exceptional young man.”

“Everything speaks to a young man who was brought up well, brought up properly and has turned out to be a decent young man and a good member of society,” said the judge.

Mr. Rafferty gave Rice a 12-month conditional discharge for the offence.

“On balance what you did was wrong, but it started out with the best of intentions,” he said. “That’s why I’m dealing with you in this slightly exceptional way.”