County Derry man with 101 convictions pulled out neighbour's tree

A County Derry man pulled out his neighbour's tree in the early hours of the morning after a perceived slight during his brother's wake, a court has heard.

Mark Kennedy (33), of Sandymount, Magherafelt, entered a guilty plea to a charge of criminal damage at Magherafelt Magistrates Court on Wednesday in connection with the incident on September 9 2022.

Police had received a report from the injured party that a small tree had been pulled out of the ground and been left lying in her front garden.

On checking CCTV, she identified the defendant walking past the house with another male and two females at 12.30am that morning.

The footage showed the defendant pulling the tree from the ground and throwing it into the garden, and Kennedy was later arrested at his mother's address.

During police interview he said he 'didn't think it was criminal damage' and that he had done it because he claimed the injured party was 'drilling at the wall' during his brother's wake.

Defence for Kennedy acknowledged that he had 101 previous convictions and described his background as 'desperate'.

They said he had spent time in care as a child, had experienced difficulties with drugs since he was 11 years old and had spent time in and out of custody throughout his life.

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The defendant has been handed a combination order.

Counsel added that the defendant deserved some credit for accepting his guilt.

Judge Mullan sentenced Kennedy to six months in prison, suspended for a period of 18 months, and imposed a five-month restraining order prohibiting contact with the injured party.

“This woman should have peace of mind,” she added.