Derry pair to be sentenced for city centre assault that left man in critical condition

A man and woman will be sentenced on December 15 for an assault in Derry City Centre that left a man in a critical condition. 

At today's sitting of Derry Crown Court a defence barrister indicated his client wished to be re- arraigned on a single charge related to the assault on September 6 last year.

Martin Sheridan (31) of Spencer Road in Derry was re-arraigned on one charge of maliciously and unlawfully causing grievious bodily harm on a man in the city centre on September 6 last year.

When the single charge was put to him he pleaded guilty. 

His co-accused, Courtney Temple (21) of Magazine Street in Derry had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault on the same man on the same date.

The court was told that a personal statement was available from the injured party.

Defence barrister for Sheridan, Sean Doherty, said that a pre-sentence report was required but added that his client had always accepted he had struck the victim. 

He said the only issue had been did the injuries amount to grievious bodily harm. 

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Defence counsel for Temple, Sinead Rogan, said her client was currently in Hydebank and had pleaded guilty earlier

A prosecutor said that the two defendants should be sentenced together.

Both defendants who are currently in custody will be sentenced on December 15.

The victim in the case was in a critical condition in hospital for some time after the assault in Sackville Street.