A man was described as the ‘perfect predator’ in court after he was found guilty of viciously attacking another man for no reason.
Charles McFadden head-butted his victim before kicking him in the head before slipping back into a crowded bar.
McFadden, 45, was drinking in the Gweedore Bar in Falcarragh on March 17th, St Patrick’s Night last year when he spotted Paul McGinley.
He summoned McGinley over to him in the bar but when McGinley called over, McFadden lunged at him and viciously assaulted him.
Mr McGinley told Letterkenny District Court he had never met McFadden before the incident and didn’t know him.
He said he was left in shock and had to receive hospital treatment for facial injuries.
Directly after the incident McFadden was escorted form the premises for his own safety through the kitchen as Mr McGinley’s friends were looking for him.
Giving evidence, McFadden of Moyra, Falcarragh, who was facing a Section 3 Assault charge, said it was Mr McGinley who was staring at him and initially pushed him first.
However Mr McGinley said it was he who was set upon.
“I thought he had broken my nose. I felt gritty bits in my mouth. I looked upwards and he was gone – he was the perfect predator.
“He ambushed me and then moved back in as if nothing had happened. It was like a professional attack,” he said.
After hearing the evidence from both men, Judge Conal Gibbons said he had no doubt that it was McFadden who started the incident.
Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said McFadden had never been in trouble in his life and was a good stepfather to five children.
He had worked in the construction industry all over the country and in the UK but work had dried up.
He said his client had never been in trouble and still can’t believe he had used his head on the night in question and had never been involved in such behaviour.
Mr Gallagher pleaded with Judge Gibbons to consider having a probation report done on McFadden and not to send him to jail.
He said he had plenty to offer the community by means of community service never-mind the expense of sending him to prison.
However Judge Gibbons said he was seriously thinking about a prison sentence in the case.
He said Mr McGinley could have been even more seriously injured.
“He was downed and sent back by this attack. His head was seriously injured and thank God it wasn’t worse. We do know of cases where worse outcomes have occurred and that is tragic. I’m sure he and his family are thankful but it’s no thanks to your client,” said Judge Gibbons.
He added that he was not making any promises and that he saw the assault as “most sinister.”
He adjourned the case until July and warned that “all options are on the table.”