Single punch lands Ardglass man with six months in prison

Single punch lands Ardglass man with six months in prison

21 September 2016

AN Ardglass man has been jailed for six months for seriously injuring another man with a single, drunken punch.

Conor Fitzgerald, of St Michael’s Park, has also been sentenced to one year of probation after his release from prison for causing grievous bodily harm to the man after a night out in Downpatrick on May 31 last year.

Fitzgerald inflicted a serious eye injury on the man who he hit after becoming jealous that he was talking to his former girlfriend.

Downpatrick Crown Court heard on Monday that 24 year-old Fitzgerald tried to explain away his behaviour by claiming he hit the man because he was afraid he was going to drink drive with his ex-girlfriend as a passenger.

However, he later accepted the pair were walking to a party when he threw the punch.

Judge Piers Grant said that although he could give Fitzgerald some credit for an early plea, he had to take into account the fact that the electrician had at first equivocated about the events of the night.

He said it appeared Fitzgerald had been “making a bit of a nuisance of himself” in a pub after noticing his ex-girlfriend speaking to the other man.

As the pair were walking down the street, they heard Fitzgerald’s footsteps behind them and the injured party, who had his hands in his pockets, was struck in the face. 

He was taken to hospital where he was treated for a major eye injury, which the court heard required surgery and has led to a partial loss of vision.

Judge Grant explained that he had previously deferred sentencing to see if the injured man’s eye condition would improve, but now accepted he would have significantly reduced vision and double vision in the future.

“It is quite clear that as a result of your actions this injured party will be left with significant problems in terms of his eyesight and viability of his eye in the long-term,” said Judge Grant.

“This was an unprovoked attack borne exclusively out of your jealousy. You could not accept that she was entitled to walk with and go with the injured party in this case.

“It is none of your business, they were walking to a friend’s home at the time.”

Despite Fitzgerald’s remorse and the low likelihood of him re-offending due to his previously clear record, Judge Grant said that it was inevitable that he would be jailed because of the seriousness of the injury inflicted.

“This was a deliberate assault on your part,” he said.

“But I accept it was a single blow and I am prepared to accept you did not intend to cause that degree of injury. But I am satisfied that there must be a custodial element.

Judge Grant said he believed an 18 month sentence, to include six months in custody, was a “generous, sympathetic approach.” A five year restraining order was also imposed.