A COUPLE attacked two men in Enniskillen town centre after the woman alleged that she had been the victim of a sexual assault, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Dean Cashel (36), of Woodview, Enniskillen, pleaded guilty to assaulting one of the men, causing him actual bodily harm, and using disorderly behaviour at The Diamond on September 5, 2015.

Meanwhile, his partner, Sinead McGovern (29), of the same address, pleaded guilty to unlawfully assaulting both men and also using disorderly behaviour.

The court heard that, at 1.25am, police received a report from the injured party that he and his friend had been assaulted in The Diamond. Upon arrival, witnesses pointed out the two defendants as the assailants.

Cashel and McGovern were stopped, and the woman was “upset and angry”. She alleged that a male had grabbed her and made an allegation of sexual assault.

The police observed that there was swelling around the injured party’s left eye and blood on his face. Photographs were taken, the court heard.

There were no visible injuries to the defendants, who were arrested and conveyed to Enniskillen police station. They were interviewed and released on bail the following morning.

CCTV footage of the incident showed the two injured parties standing at the Muck Truck, a fast food van in The Diamond. Cashel walks past the vehicle, followed 10 feet behind by his partner.

There is an exchange of words between the two men and the woman, before she pushes one in the back and slaps the other in the face.

In a subsequent confrontation between Cashel and one of the men, punches are thrown by both before the injured party is knocked to the ground. The other man tries to intervene, but is pulled down by both defendants.

In the course of the investigation, police also spoke to the man who had sustained the facial injury. He told them that he had said something in a “jokey way” to the woman as she walked past, adding that she had slapped him in the face due to a “misunderstanding”.

During interview, Cashel made an allegation that he had witnessed a sexual assault at the Muck Truck and said he had been punched several times by the injured party.

Defending counsel, Steffan Rafferty, told the court that both his clients deserved significant credit for entering guilty pleas at an early stage in proceedings.

The barrister said that McGovern had been “quite candid and frank” with the author of the pre-sentence report and appreciated that her actions were “excessive and out of hand”.

He said that defendant accepted that the allegation that she had made was not borne out by the CCTV footage.

Mr Rafferty said that his client had consumed alcohol on the night in question and, upon hearing a “smart or sarcastic remark” from someone she didn’t know, turned and faced the man. Upon hearing the remark repeated, she had struck out.

Conceding that this didn’t excuse or justify her actions, the barrister said that her partner had then become involved and a fight ensued.

Mr Rafferty said Cashel had been “going to the defence” of his partner after she had made the allegation.

In mitigation, the barrister said that both defendants had clear records as far as matters of violence were concerned and neither came across as “violent or aggressive people”.

Urging the judge to treat it as a “one-off” occasion, Mr Rafferty claimed that the incident “got the better of them”.

District judge Nigel Broderick observed that McGovern was a lady of otherwise good character and alcohol had clouded her judgement.

Taking into account that she had inflicted no injuries, the judge imposed fines totalling £300 and ordered her to pay a £15 offender levy.

Turning to Cashel, Mr Broderick said he had committed the more serious offence.

“Whatever may or may not have happened, there was no justification for taking the law into your own hands,” the judge said.

He imposed 120 hours of community service on the defendant and ordered him to pay £500 compensation to the injured party.

Mr Broderick also fined Cashel £100 and imposed a £15 offender levy.