£1,000 fine for biting a friend

£1,000 fine for biting a friend

14 December 2011

A DOWNPATRICK man who admitted biting a friend during a fight at a party has received a one year suspended prison sentence and a £1,000 fine.

Twenty-one year-old Matthew Hynds had been attending a party in Church Street, in the town, on September 19, 2009, when the brawl occurred.

Yesterday’s sitting of Downpatrick Crown Court heard Hynds, of Donard View Crescent, left injuries including a deep hole above the injured party’s eye, which required surgery and left a scar.

The court heard that Hynds was also injured during the incident, with bite marks to his shoulders, but that it was unclear who was responsible.

A defence lawyer said there were many inconsistencies between witness statements from the injured party and a witness to the altercation.

“It was an overreaction to a self-defence situation,” he said. “Mr. Hynds says he was bitten first.”

The barrister added that “childish nonsense” over a girl attending the party led to the disagreement, and that “drink soured the atmosphere”.

He said a probation report on Hynds noted he had

“sympathy and empathy” for the grievous bodily harm caused.

“This has had a devastating impact on him and on his family to whom this type of behaviour is completely alien,” he said.

“The court can be satisfied this is a one-off.”

Judge David Smyth QC described it as a “serious incident” but acknowledged it was “not clear” what exactly happened on the night. Taking into account Hynds’ guilty plea, clear record and probation report, he said: “I am satisfied it is not in the public interest to be sentencing you to an immediate period of custody.”