A Lurgan man who subjected a woman to a “sustained” and “violent” attack has been sentenced to eight months in prison.
Gary Damien Scullion, of Edward Street, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court, via videolink from Maghaberry.
The 30-year-old was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The court heard that the case had been adjourned as the defendant was sentenced in the Crown Court to three years in custody the day before.
The prosecution outlined that on December 3, 2021, police received a report from a resident on Charles Street in Lurgan saying they were observing an ongoing assault from their property involving two males and a female. They perceived the female to be the victim.
Police attended the area shortly after this report and located the injured party in the front garden of her parents’ home. She was noted to have visible injuries to her face, including bruising around her eyes and blood coming from her nose. She was also noted to be in a “highly distressed” state.
The court heard that she was reluctant to engage with police, stating that she was afraid of “subsequent reprisals” towards herself or her family.
The injured party later provided a statement to police. She claimed that the incident was in relation to a debt owed to the defendant by her son.
When asked about the debt, the injured party stated that she was spat on twice. A short time later she returned home to clean up. She was then set upon a second time by the defendant.
The second incident was a more “sustained” and “violent” attack, with the injured party detailing that she was kicked to the stomach, spat on again and swiped to the face, which resulted in her falling to the ground. She was then subjected to numerous blows and kicks whilst on the ground.
As this was taking place, the male who was believed to be with the defendant was attempting to separate the parties and “discouraged” the defendant from continuing with the assault.
The injured party said that she felt she was “going to die”.
The defendant was then conveyed to Banbridge custody suite where he was interviewed and gave a largely no-comment interview.
Sean Doherty, defending, conceded that the case was a “serious matter”.
He explained that the defendant has a “long history of drugs misuse” and that he had been abusing drugs on a daily basis at the time of the event.
On explaining that the defendant wished to re-establish a relationship with his daughter, District Judge Bernie Kelly responded: “If that’s how he treats females what do you think the chances are of him getting anywhere near her?”
The defence responded that this process would be a “long road”.
District Judge Kelly commented: “Bearing in mind that females are the sex that carries and brings children into this world, there’s always been a general view that they were entitled to a little more respect by virtue of that role…..Mr Scullion thinks that a female is fair game for a sustained violent attack which left the woman actually fearing for her own life.”
Scullion was sentenced to eight months in custody, to be served concurrently with his current sentence.
District Judge Kelly also imposed a restraining order in respect of the injured party to run for three years.
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