A 23 year-old man attacked a young woman with a baseball bat, Downpatrick Court has heard.
James Joseph Delaney denied assaulting the woman or carrying an offensive weapon on the Dundrum Road, Newcastle, on May 18, 2016.
He was convicted last Thursday by District Amanda Brady following a hearing which lasted two days.
However, he was cleared of assaulting his brother and attempting to intimidate a witness.
The court heard that the woman was injured as part of a long running feud between Delaney and his brother, Eugene, who are originally from Monaghan.
Delaney, whose address was listed as Maghaberry, Lisburn, was living in Newcastle at the time of the incident.
In her ruling, Judge Brady said that the female victim and Delaney also had a history of a previous dispute.
The court heard that the victim had been struck on the left side of her head by Delaney as she spoke to her sister through the window of a parked car.
Delaney’s brother was in the car with his girlfriend, who was the victim’s sister, and another male friend at the time.
The injured woman received a 4cm cut to her head which required five staples in hospital.
Delaney claimed that he was the intended victim, having been set upon by his brother and other friends as he and his partner had walked home from a friend’s house.
Delaney said he had not struck the young woman and that she must have been injured by others.
Judge Brady said she accepted evidence from the victim’s sister and a male witness that Delaney had produced the baseball bat from down the side of his trousers, swung it towards the woman, saying, “I’m going to get you.”
She further accepted that Delaney also sustained injuries to his face during the clash which happened between him and his brother, but she was not satisfied by Delaney’s evidence of his counter claim of an assault against him.
She said Delaney had not reported the assault on him to police, or sought medical treatment for his injuries, and “effectively went on the run” for three weeks when police called to his home shortly after the incident.
She also pointed out that Delaney’s statement to police differed from his evidence in court.
In relation to the charge of intimidation of the male witness, Ms Brady said she placed “great emphasis” on the witness’s evidence and believed him to be a ‘truthful witness”.
However, she was not satisfied there was enough evidence beyond reasonable doubt to convict Delaney of the charge or that he made a threatening phone saying: “If you make a statement against me, you’ll be in hospital on Friday.”
Delaney is to be sentenced at Downpatrick Court on September 6.