A man who shoved another man into oncoming traffic after being refused a cigarette has been sentenced to six months in prison.
The 54-year-old’s solicitor, who described his client as a “pathetic alcoholic”, told court the defendant “remembered virtually nothing” about the incident.
Damien Joseph Young, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday, via videolink from Maghaberry.
Prosecution outlined that on November 18, police on patrol in Lurgan were approached by a female who reported an incident.
She stated a homeless man, identified as the defendant, had approached her and asked for a cigarette but she told him no due to Covid.
Young then asked another member of the public and when refused shoved him onto the road into oncoming traffic.
As a female came to assist, the defendant then shoved her and attempted to punch her.
At this point Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes stopped the outline of the facts.
He stated that is was “mind blowing” that the case as outlined was before the Magistrates’ Court, commenting that more serious charges could have been levelled against the defendant.
Defence solicitor Conor Downey described his client as a “pathetic alcoholic”, adding that Young had found himself in Lurgan after only recently being released from prison.
He stated that the defendant “remembered virtually nothing” about the incident and offered his apologies through his solicitor.
Mr Downey also informed the court that Young had been on remand since the commission of the offence.
Deputy District Judge Holmes commented that this was little consolation as it only meant “the people of Northern Ireland will be inflicted with misery sooner”.
He added that if the defendant were to appear with similar facts on another occasion he would be refusing to deal with the matter.
Young was sentenced to a total of six months in prison for the offences.
