AN unprovoked assault on a disabled Newcastle man has landed a man with an 18 month prison sentence.
Philip Matthew Rooney must spend a minimum of six months in jail for a vicious assault in a Newcastle bar on May 4 this year.
At Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday Rooney admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Mr. Stephen Ireland who had been having a quiet drink in the Donard Bar before he was attacked.
Forty year-old Rooney punched Mr. Ireland to the face at around 2.30pm and continued to punch him after he fell to the ground. Mr. Ireland (53) suffered a badly broken shoulder which required surgery and a ten day stay in hospital.
Mr. Ireland told police how before the attack Rooney had appeared agitated and unsettled as he talked to a barman.
The victim, who is registered disabled because of a previous spinal injury, did not know Rooney and did not see the punch coming.
A witness to the attack, Mr. Seamus Rooney, said the attack was completely unprovoked. “Mr. Ireland was suddenly hit with incredibly vicious force to his face,” said Mr. Rooney.
Defence barrister, Mr. Chris Holmes, said Rooney had been drinking before the incident and can remember little about it. He said the defendant is very remorseful about what happened, which he described as “incomprehensible.”
“He knows he cannot take out his personal problems with alcohol on an innocent bystander who has done nothing,” said Mr. Holmes.
Judge David Smith said blaming alcohol was no excuse for the attack on Mr. Ireland.
“I am satisfied that you regret this incident,” said the judge. “However, it would not be in the public interest to suspended the prison sentence.”
Rooney, of St. Joseph’s Bungalows, Ballymartin, must spend 12 months on licence after his release and must undertake counselling for his alcohol addiction.