Men attacked cyclists

Men attacked cyclists

30 May 2012

TWO local men have been convicted of assaulting two cyclists from a moving car.

Paul Fisher and Sean Roy Willoughby slapped the cyclists on the back as they passed in a car on the outskirts of Castlewellan on September 18 last year.

At Downpatrick District Court Fisher (20), of Manse Road, Seaforde, and Willoughby (25), of Aughlisnafin Road, Castlewellan, denied the offence but were convicted after a hearing.

Fisher was the front seat passenger and Willoughby was the back seat passenger in the car as it passed the two cyclists. They leaned out of the car window and struck the two men on their lower backs as they drove past, shouting abuse and laughing.

One of the cyclists who had been hit had a visual impairment and did not see the men as they hung out of the side of the car. He said he did not have any pain from this incident, while his fellow cyclist had severe back pain for several days.

“Somebody could have been badly hurt,” the cyclist said. “It was pure luck that somebody didn’t come off their bike.”

Willoughby told the court that he and Fisher had been drinking beer in the car on their way home from a trip to Dublin when they decided to shout at the cyclists.

“We were roaring and shouting and laughing, but at no time did we hit anyone,” he said, adding that he did see the visually impaired cyclist “nearly fall off” his bike after they drove past him.

District Judge Mr. Greg McCourt pointed out that Fisher had told police during an interview that he and Willoughby thought it would be “great craic” to hang out of the window and shout at people.

Sentencing has been adjourned to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report on Willoughby. Fisher is in Australia and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.