Man sentenced over one punch attack in Toome

By John Cassidy

THE family of a man who died as a result of a one punch attack today (Friday) reacted angrily when the man who admitted killing him was jailed for six months.

Relatives of James McDonagh shouted 'You're a dead man, you're a dead man'' at Finbar McCoy as the sentence was passed at Belfast Crown Court.

Members of the PSNI's Tactical Support Group had to usher the angry relatives from the court as Mrs Justice Keegan delivered her sentencing.

Mr McDonagh died from injuries he sustained by falling backwards and hitting his head off the ground after he was punched once in the face by Finbar McCoy Jnr outside the The Elk Inn, Toome, in January 2016.

The 28-year-old never regained consciousness.

Last year McCoy (26), from Tamlaghduff Road in Bellaghy, stood trial, with the jury being hung.

He was to go on trial for a second time, but earlier this month changed his plea and admitted unlawful killing.

The judge said today (Friday) that she acknowledged that there were "sufficient exceptional circusmtances in the case'' which made if fall outside the normal sentencing guidelines and had been urged by his defence QC Eilis McDermott to suspend any prison sentence.

But Mrs Justice Keegan told the court: "However, this remains what is described as a one punch case resulting in a fatal death.

"I consider that an immediate custodial sentence is required to reflect the gravity of the offence and and in my view the circumstances do not warrant a departure from that principle.

"There also remains the need for a deterrence in all these cases to ensure that this type of offence does not occur again.

"I therefore decline to suspend that sentence. 

"Finbar McCoy I sentence you to 12 months imprisonment, six months will be spent in custody and six months will be spent on licence.''