Suspended sentence '¨for city centre assault

Conor Costello was warned this is the ‘last chance’ he will get from the court.

Costello, of Simpsons Brae, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on July 12, last year.

Derry Magistrate’s Court heard police saw the defendant assault another man outside a city centre bar.

He assaulted the man with a ‘flurry of punches’ which resulted in him falling to the ground and being knocked unconscious, the court heard.

An ambulance was tasked for the injured party and Costello was arrested.

During police interview, he claimed the injured party had spat in his face and this caused him to ‘see red’.

The twenty-two-year-old claimed he hit the man, who hit him back, the court was told.

Costello also said he could not remember the injured party falling to the ground.

Defence counsel Steven Mooney told the court his client has a ‘crippling drug problem’ and lives an ‘isolated lifestyle’.

He said Costello has a limited record but does have a previous conviction for disorderly behaviour which involved a physical altercation.

The barrister added the twenty-two-year-old has not committed any further offences since July last year.

District Judge Barney McElholm suspended an eight month sentence for three years