A west Belfast man got off easy today after punching his coworker so hard during a night out that the poor guy ended up with a fractured skull. Gary Thomas McGahan, a 44-year-old from Stewartstown Road, admitted to causing grievous bodily harm at Belfast Crown Court. The incident took place on July 5, 2023, while McGahan and his colleagues were out socializing in the city center, enjoying a few drinks. CCTV footage from the Waring Street/Hill Street area captured the whole brutal attack on camera.
According to Judge Gordon Kerr KC, things got heated between McGahan and his coworker, resulting in a physical altercation. McGahan, in a fit of rage, threw his jacket on the ground and started yelling at the victim before throwing a punch that sent him crashing to the ground, hitting his head on the concrete. As if that wasn’t enough, McGahan then decided to kick the poor guy in the hip area while he was lying unconscious. Talk about adding insult to injury! Despite members of the public rushing to help the injured party, McGahan made a run for it when the police showed up. He was eventually caught on William Street and taken into custody.
During his interview with the police, McGahan tried to justify his actions by claiming self-defense, stating that the victim had threatened him first. However, the CCTV footage clearly showed that McGahan was the aggressor in this situation. Judge Kerr, after reviewing all the evidence and taking into account McGahan’s work history and family commitments, sentenced him to three years in prison but decided to suspend the sentence for three years as a second chance for the offender. Not really sure why he’s getting off so lightly, but hey, who am I to judge? Let’s hope McGahan learns from this experience and doesn’t mess up again in the next three years, or he’ll be back in court facing a real prison sentence.
