A Mullaghbawn man who punched his mother and smashed a lantern belonging to her will have to wait until next month to learn his fate.
Court heard that the 34-year-old had an entry on his record for a similar offence in which he assaulted his stepfather.
Jason O’Hanlon, of Conway Park, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage and common assault at Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Prosecution outlined that on November 30, police received a report of a domestic incident at an address in Ashgrove Park in Newry.
Officers spoke to the injured party who alleged her son, the defendant, had punched her, knocking her to the ground, and had then twisted her arm.
She claimed O’Hanlon had smashed a lantern, valued at £40, which belonged to her after throwing it against a wall.
The defendant was also accused of leaving marks on a front door after he threw stones at it.
O’Hanlon was arrested for the offences and when interviewed he denied punching his mother but accepted damaging the door and lantern claiming this had not been intentional.
Defence solicitor Gerard Trainor stated: “He has been in custody since the date of the offence. He is a man, with the exception of one similar incident, with a very limited record.
“His mother is not seeking any order but upon his release he will not return to this home. He instructs that this was a situation which just got out of hand.”
District Judge Eamonn King asked who the victim had been in the similar incident which had occurred in May.
Speaking via videolink, the defendant revealed he had assaulted his stepfather.
District Judge King commented: “There is a trend here. I am going to need a pre-sentence report.”
The case was adjourned until February 12 for sentencing.
Pending this, O’Hanlon was released on his own bail of £250 with conditions including; not to contact the injured party and not to consume alcohol or drugs.
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