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07 Jan 2026

Suspended sentence for Derry bouncer who assaulted a man outside a bar

Sean Paul Deeney (41) of Rinmore Drive in Derry admitted one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on December 1, 2024

£250,000 fraud case involving Donegal woman adjourned at Derry Magistrate's Court

Derry Magistrates' Court

Reporter:

Court Reporter

06 Jan 2026 2:00 PM

Email:

news@derrynow.com

A bouncer who assaulted a man outside a bar with one punch has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrates' Court today. 
Sean Paul Deeney (41) of Rinmore Drive in Derry admitted one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on December 1, 2024.
The court heard that police were called by CCTV operators to a report of a disturbance outside a bar.
They found an unconscious male on the ground in Waterloo Street and a bouncer, Deeney, made himself known to police and said he had punched the injured party but believed he was acting in self defence.
Defence counsel Michael Donaghy said it was 'clearly a serious incident' as all one punch cases can be serious.
He said Deeney had been a bouncer for over two decades without incident. 
The barrister said that to put the incident in context the injured party had been engaging in 'disgraceful behaviour' in the bar previously.
He had been aggressive towards other individuals in the bar.
Deputy District Judge Liam McStay said that he was surprised that 'someone like you with a long clear record would let yourself go.'
He said the job of protecting the public was a 'significant one' but Deeney had let 'circumstances overcome' him in this case.
He imposed a sentence of six months suspended for two years and refused to set compensation considering how the injured party had behaved previously. 

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