‘I danced all over that wee man’s head’: Man sentenced for kicking victim in head

Following his arrest, Hannon was taken to Musgrave police station where he was heard saying ‘I’m getting done for GBH’

A four-month jail term was today imposed upon a Belfast man who admitted kicking another man in the head.

Christopher Hannon, from Monagh Road in West Belfast, was handed a 19-month sentence which was divided between four months in prison followed by 15 months on supervised licence.

The 20-year-old admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced by Judge Patrick Lynch KC.

Belfast Crown Court heard that around 8.30pm on January 15, 2024 the injured party was with a friend outside a Spar in the city when he observed a group of four to five males. The injured party heard one of the group say they were going to steal a car then saw one of the males trying the vehicle’s door handle.

He told them to stop and leave the area but one of those in the group then punched the injured party. After he was brought to the ground, the injured party sustained a further assault and felt his head being stamped on several times before losing consciousness.

Whilst others were involved in the attack, it’s the Crown’s case that Hannon administered some kicks to the injured party as he lay on the ground.

The wounded man was treated for a number of injuries including swelling to his skull. Following his arrest, Hannon was taken to Musgrave police station where he was heard saying ‘I’m getting done for GBH. I danced all over that wee man’s head.’

During an interview, Hannon accepted being involved in the altercation but initially denied kicking the other man when he was on the ground. However, after being shown CCTV footage of the incident, Hannon admitted he had kicked the injured party once or twice in the head but claimed he was acting in self-defence.

Regarding Hannon, Judge Lynch said he had read defence submissions which set out “childhood trauma”, his struggles with education and his misuse of drink and drugs.

The Judge added that Hannon’s criminal record, which “does him no credit whatsoever for a person of his age”, includes prior assaults. Also noted was that Hannon’s offending last January was committed whilst he was under a suspended sentence for an unrelated matter.

Telling Hannon kicking a man when he was on the ground with a shod foot was an aggravating factor, Judge Lynch said he had also taken into account that he was aged 18 at the time. The Judge imposed a 17-month sentence for the assault and activated an additional two months of the suspended sentence.

Dividing this 19-month term between four months in custody and 15 months of supervision, Judge Lynch said the extended period on licence “would be of benefit” to Hannon.

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