Man headbutted and kicked in head in Belmullet bar brawl

A FORTY-year-old English man headbutted a man and kicked him in the head repeatedly while he was on the ground, a court heard last week.

Adam Clements (40) of 51 Cheapside, Liverpool, appeared before Belmullet District Court, where he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm in O’D’s pub in Belmullet on January 18 last.

The court heard that on the night of the assault, Mr Clements was socialising in the pub in the company of four individuals, including the victim, when an argument broke out.

Inspector Dermot Butler explained that he does not know what was said in the argument but the pub’s CCTV coverage ‘speaks for itself’.

Insp Butler said the defendant headbutted his victim causing him to fall to the ground before he kicked him three times to the head. Mr Clement, he said, then returns to the bar for his phone and wallet before turning around and kicking the victim again in the head and leaving. The CCTV coverage of the assault was shown to Judge Fiona Lydon.

Ashamed

The court was told that Mr Clements had been working on a job in the gas terminal in Bellanaboy and was staying in a local B&B.

The victim, a local man, was brought to Mayo University Hospital. He did not receive any serious injuries, apart from a cut to the lip that needed one stitch. Insp Butler said he has made a full recovery and did not wish to make a victim impact statement, saying he wants to get on with his life.

Mr Gary Mulchrone, solicitor for Mr Clements said his client is deeply ashamed of his actions and accepts that he is very fortunate his victim did not suffer more serious injuries.

He explained that Mr Clements remained working in the region after the incident and was only arrested on February 1, when he was brought before a special sitting of the district court.

He was remanded in custody for seven weeks because he could not raise the €30,000 bail bond. He was eventually released on bail when the bail bond was reduced to €5,000. Mr Mulchrone said Mr Clements returned to Liverpool but has returned back on two occasions for court sittings.

‘Staring at the walls’

Mr Mulchrone said his client has only one minor conviction in the UK and he accepted he had significantly overreacted on the night of the assault. He added that he spent seven weeks ‘staring at the walls’ in Castlerea Prison and had plenty of time to reflect on his actions.

He said this is the first time he has been in court this type of behaviour and he is willing to make the €5,000 bail bond available as compensation for his victim.

Mr Mulchrone said his client had never been to Mayo before starting the job in Bellanaboy and is currently employed in the UK.

Judge Fiona Lydon said that having seen the CCTV footage, Mr Clements should be mortified and ashamed. However, she also acknowledged that he has served over a month in custody and said she was not inclined to impose a custodial sentence if Mr Clements completes an anger-management course.

In relation to compensation, she said the maximum fine she can impose for the charge is €2,500 and she cannot direct compensation above this figure. However, she commented that if an ex gratia payment of €5,000 is offered that would be appreciated by the court.

She adjourned finalisation of the sentence until October 9, so that Mr Clements can complete an anger-management course.