Northern Ireland

Ex-Antrim hurler Liam Watson and father admit assaulting man in home village

Patrick Watson at an earlier court appearance with his son Liam. Picture by Mark Jamieson
Patrick Watson at an earlier court appearance with his son Liam. Picture by Mark Jamieson Patrick Watson at an earlier court appearance with his son Liam. Picture by Mark Jamieson

A FORMER Antrim hurling star and his father have admitted assaulting a man in their home village.

Liam Watson (35) and his father Patrick Watson (57), both of of Scally Park, Loughgiel, appeared before Coleraine Magistrates Court yesterday.

Liam Watson, a window cleaner, had initially been charged with using a hurley as an offensive weapon with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, one charge of common assault against a man, and two counts of criminal damage to a bedroom window and a summer seat.

Patrick Watson, a former bricklayer, initially faced two charges: assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the same man and possession of a hurley with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.

Both had previously denied the charges.

But yesterday the prosecution said they were offering no evidence in respect of the offensive weapon charges and the charge against Liam Watson of criminal damage to a summer seat.

Instead, the pair both pleaded guilty to common assault. Liam Watson also admitted to one charge of criminal damage and Patrick Watson admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard that just after 10pm on November 7 last year, the father and son arrived at a house in Loughgiel with a hurley.

The victim said Liam Watson punched him in the face and Patrick Watson hit him on the elbow with a hurley.

He also added that Liam Watson broke a window.

Liam Watson's defence lawyer told the court a knife had been brandished at his client the previous week and the tyres of vehicles belonging to him and his father had been slashed. He said the pair had gone to challenge those who they believed were responsible.

"There was bad blood here," the lawyer said.

Patrick Watson said his client's behaviour was unusual for a father and grandfather "but he found himself in a situation that he, wife and children have been essentially terrorised".

District Judge Liam McNally told the Watsons: "It was unlawful of you to take the law into your own hands".

He said Liam Watson clearly had consumed "a fair amount of alcohol" but said his "culpability was somewhat less" as he fined him £500 for the assault. The 35-year-old was also given a two year conditional discharge for the criminal damage and ordered to pay £195 compensation for the broken window.

Patrick Watson received a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.