Kildare man attacked friend after nine days of drinking

Airidas Baradas (22), of The Waterfront, Naas, Co. Kildare, assaulted the injured party on December 17 and 20.

The court heard police were called to a house at Carnmore Rise, Enniskillen at around 7.30pm on December 20.

The injured party told police that the assault had taken place earlier when the defendant, who had been drinking vodka which had run out, told the victim to go out for some more, and they refused.

Baradas proceeded to attack the injured party, a female friend, punching them a number of times on the face. The victim also confirmed to police that another assault had taken place on December 17.

Officers noted and photographed the injuries to the victim's face, and Baradas was then arrested and taken into custody where he gave a very high alcohol reading.

When interviewed, he denied any assault had taken place. He told them he had flown in from Bulgaria and travelled to Enniskillen to stay with his friend, and had been drinking for nine days.

Baradas' solicitor, Michael Fahy, told the court that nine days of sustained drinking is indicative of alcohol issues and his client did struggle with this.

He said the 22-year-old had travelled to his friend's house, where the events had unfolded.

Due to not being able to perfect a surety, Baradas had been in custody in Maghaberry since the event, and had served the equivalent of a two-month prison sentence, according to Mr. Fahy.

Mr. Fahy said his client regretted the entire incident and knows it should not have happened, adding that the time his client had spent in prison had not been pleasant.

On the two charges of common assault, District Judge Steven Keown handed down a two-month prison sentence to Baradas, saying that "only a coward" would lift their hand to a woman or someone who was more vulnerable than them.

However, taking into account Baradas' ongoing remand in custody, Judge Keown ruled this was completed as time served.