A man who kicked and punched his wife in the bridal suite of a hotel on their wedding night has been spared a prison term.
Antrim Magistrates Court heard Kevin Joseph McGrath (28) – of Ardnaskea Drive, Coalisland, Co Tyrone, but who had been living at Desertmartin, Co Derry – was drinking from 10am that day.
The court heard McGrath could not remember anything after the wedding meal ended at 8pm and fell asleep after the assault.
Police were called to the White River House Hotel in Toomebridge on October 2nd. His wife, Melissa, had fled her room and had to be taken to hospital for treatment. Hotel staff confronted McGrath, who was “kicked out”. A prosecutor said police attended the hotel at 5am.
McGrath admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on his wife. The court heard that, since being married, he has not seen his wife or daughter.
The judge put McGrath on probation for two years to take part in the Building Better Relationships programme and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of Community Service. He also ordered him to pay £300 compensation to his wife, noting the sentence was “a direct alternative to immediate custody”.