Farmer, 63 gets 3yrs for brutal assault on neighbour

Judge blasts 'unprovoked and pre-meditated' attack in road

- SONYA MCLEAN

A FARMER suspected of being a fuel smuggler was jailed for three years yesterday for a brutal and "premeditated" assault on his neighbour.

Eugene Hanratty Snr, 63, attacked musician Martin McAllister after forcing his car to stop by blocking the road.

He punched the victim in the head, pulled him by the hair, and kicked him before dragging him out of his vehicle.

The assault continued outside the car, with Hanratty, of Castleblayney Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continually kicking him while he was on the ground.

Mr McAllister's right arm was stamped on and he went in and out of consciousness. The victim's wife Mary begged Hanratty to stop because she feared the injuries would be fatal.

Eugene Hanratty Jnr also asked his father to stop attacking the man.

The victim suffered multiple broken bones in his face, both his eye sockets were broken and he has been left with a permanent loss of his peripheral vision.

He has been treated numerous times but without success and the loss of his peripheral vision "impinges on my everyday life". Sentencing Hanratty, who denied assault but was convicted at an earlier trial, Judge Melanie Greally said the jury rejected his defence of justified use of force following a dispute over duck shooting rights on local lands.