A GROOM who kicked and punched his new wife in a hotel bridal suite on their wedding night has been spared a prison term.
Details of the attack - which also saw Kevin Joseph McGrath put his hands around his wife Melissa's throat - emerged at Antrim Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old joiner, whose address was given as Ardnaskea Drive, Coalisland, Co Tyrone but who had been living in Desertmartin in Co Derry, had been drinking from 10am that morning.
He was so drunk he claimed he couldn't remember anything after the wedding meal ended at 8pm.
Police were called to the White River House Hotel in Toomebridge at around 5am on Sunday, October 2.
McGrath's wife had alerted staff about the attack after fleeing her room and had to be taken to hospital for treatment to her injuries.
Staff then woke up McGrath who was "kicked out" and made his way home.
The court heard that since being married two months ago, he has not seen his wife or his daughter.
McGrath pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The new bride told police she had been "scolding" her husband for being sick on the floor and as he lay on the bed he put his hands on her throat, "hurting her" and causing her to be feel "very scared".
She said he kicked and punched her several times and then went to sleep.
Photos of her injuries were shown to District Judge Alan White.
Defence barrister Michael Ward said the couple had been in a relationship for four years and were engaged in 2013 and had a young daughter together.
He said what was "supposed to be a very special day for them" and their families ended in disaster because McGrath consumed too much alcohol.
Mr Ward said the defendant was stressed out in the run-up to the wedding and there were incidents on the day like the best man "taking himself elsewhere" and issues about the music being played by the DJ which caused "some frustration".
He said his wife said he was "bad-tempered" and "stubborn" but she never would have described him as violent and he wished to unreservedly apologise to her.
Mr Ward said the joiner had saved up £7,000 to pay for the wedding and "really, through excess alcohol consumption, he has thrown everything in his life away".
District Judge White said he had to give credit for the guilty plea and a clear record but it was an "extremely serious assault".
He said courts have to take domestic violence particularly seriously and it was "a very sad commentary on the effects of alcohol when taken to excess, especially on what is meant to be the best day of your life".
However, the judge said he was reluctant to send first time offenders to prison and that would not help McGrath in potentially re-building his relationship with his wife.
Instead, he put him on probation for two years to take part in a 'Building Better Relationships' programme and also ordered him to carry out 100 hours of community service.
He also must pay £300 compensation to his wife.
"Most people, no matter how badly they behave, deserve one chance in life," the judge said.
