County Derry man who struck bar manager with an iron bar jailed
Sean Conway from Church Street in Magherafelt was convicted by a jury of aggravated burglary at The Church Street Brasserie in, Magherafelt with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and while in possession of an iron bar
A 33-year-old burglar who struck a bar manager with an iron bar inside a licenced premises in Magherafelt last April, has been jailed for three years at Derry Crown Court.
Sean Conway from Church Street in Magherafelt was convicted by a jury of aggravated burglary at The Church Street Brasserie in, Magherafelt with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and while in possession of an iron bar.
He was also convicted of a single charge of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
A barrister for the Public Prosecution Service told Judge Neil Rafferty K.C. that on the afternoon of last April 23 Conway walked to the restaurant, which was closed at the time. The back door was left open to ventilate the premises.
The defendant approached the open door and shouted at the manager "close that fucking door". The manager told him he'd no right to be on the premises and said the door was a private entrance for staff only.
"The defendant then went back to his flat and got an iron bar and came straight back and came back into the restaurant through the private staff door. He used the iron bar to hit the manager on the back before leaving immediately. He left the manager bruised and swollen.
"The defendant has a relevant record. In 2017 he was dealt with for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and for two charges of possessing an offensive weapon. He received a custodial sentence and similarities are noted between these cases and both involved the defendant leaving the scene to arm himself with a weapon, in that case knives. He has seven previous convictions in total, including a common assault", the prosecutor said.
"The aggravating features in this case are the use of a weapon, the defendant left the scene and returned to inflict violence, the injured party was assaulted in his work place and the attack was unprovoked", the barrister added.
Judge Rafferty said it seemed that noise coming from the premises "triggered his actions. This injured party was at his work just doing his job. There was one blow to the back. It was a nasty enough incident and anyone who arms themselves with a weapon to inflict harm must understand they will receive a custodial sentence".
As well as jailing Conway for three years, Judge Rafferty also imposed a Restraining Order for four years. Under the terms of the order Conway must not contact or approach the victim directly or indirectly, he must not enter within the boundary of the Church Street Brasserie and he's not to pester, harass or intimidate staff members.