A Lurgan man who viciously attacked an innocent bystander at a kebab shop in the town has been fined £600.
Kyle Keegan, 23, of Gilpins Manor, pleaded guilty at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to common assault and disorderly behaviour.
Court heard that at around 1.45am on December 27, 2016, police were called to a disturbance at Kylz Kebabs, however, after arriving at the premise found nothing untoward.
Later at around 3.45am a female entered Lurgan Police station to report that her friend had been assaulted at the kebab shop.
CCTV assessed by police showed there had been a verbal altercation ensuing in the shop before the defendant and another male entered.
Keegan is then seen to headbutt the injured party in an unprovoked attack before he and the accompanying male – who was not named in court – then further assaulted the victim.
While on the floor Keegan once again headbutted the injured party before they both ended up outside the takeaway.
It was heard that at this point they continued to argue but no more physical violence ensued.
Prosecution informed the court that the defendant had not co-operated with police, having three times failed to turn up for interviews.
Defence solicitor Gabriel Ingram said that this had been “disgraceful behaviour”, adding that it had been a “free for all” with “more than just my defendant involved”.
Court heard Keegan had found it hard to find employment but earned money doing odd jobs such as painting, decorating and clear rubbish from people’s’ yards.
Mr Ingram stated his client had been “highly intoxicated” at the time and had seen someone he had been punched by before.
He went on to say Keegan had nothing similar on his record but “was starting to amass something of a criminal record”.
District Judge Bernie Kelly ordered the defendant to pay a fine of £600, along with the offender’s levy of £15 within 10 weeks.
