An Irvinestown man who assaulted a doorman who asked him to leave a pub has been told by a judge there is “no more room for manoeuvre” after he was given a suspended sentence for common assault.

At around 12.30am on August 16, 2021, police received a report from the injured party that he been punched multiple times at the Necarne Arms in Irvinestown.

He said he was working as door staff and had asked the defendant – Joseph Roberts (27), of Killadeas Road, Irvinestown – to leave, before Roberts punched him nine to 11 times to the head and neck.

During an interview at a later date, Roberts admitted punching the doorman a few times with his right hand.

The injured party said he had pain to his head and face, and his lip and jaw were swollen after the incident.

Gary Black, Roberts’ solicitor, told the court this was the defendant’s third offence of a similar nature, and that the key factor in all of them was alcohol.

He said Roberts acknowledged he could not handle alcohol, and it was a factor that came into all matters.

Mr. Black added that Roberts had taken steps to address the issues and was engaging with a counsellor, while the recent set-up of his own business has also had a positive effect.

District Judge Steven Keown warned Roberts if these steps did not work, Roberts would be going to jail for a considerable time if he came back before the court for a fourth assault.

Handing him a four-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, and ordering him to pay £400 in compensation, Judge Keown warned Roberts: “There is no more room for manoeuvre.”