Crossbow attack after man knocked out of wheelchair

A man who fell out of his wheelchair during a scuffle later shot someone with a crossbow, a court has heard.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Mar 2016, 15:15 BST
Updated 9th Mar 2016, 16:16 BST

Thomas Scarlett, (36), of Ballynagard Crescent, pleaded guilty to common assault on December 23, 2014.

A co-accused, 63-year-old Ivan James Hetherington, of Drumleck Drive, also admitted assaulting the same injured party.

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Derry Magistrates Court heard the injured party was in a local bar when he was approached by Scarlett.

They went outside the bar, a scuffle ensued and the 36-year-old was knocked out of his wheelchair.

Hetherington intervened and punched the injured party to the head a number of times.

All of them left the bar and went home.

A short time later Scarlett arrived at the man’s address armed with a small crossbow and shot a small bolt from it.

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The court heard this grazed below the injured party’s eye and struck the wall behind him.

The man picked the bolt up and threw it at Scarlett as he was leaving the scene.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley told the court that there had been a previous incident involving Scarlett and the complainant. He revealed the man was convicted of damaging Scarlett’s windows in 2014.

However, Mr Quigley said there has been no repetition of the behaviour and they ‘appear to have sorted themselves out in the last year’.

District Judge Barney McElholm fined Hetherington £100.

In relation to Scarlett, the judge suspended a two month sentence for 12 months.Cirss