https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/jail-for-man-who-fractured-victims-spine-in-sandy-row-attack-tried-to-bite-psni-officers-nose-and-chanted-up-the-ra-on-hospital-ward/a1347208044.html

A man who attacked and fractured an associate’s spine after being confronted about sectarian chanting in a south Belfast neighbourhood has been jailed for 10 months.
Martin Emmet Kelly also tried to bite a PSNI officer and spat on his face, declaring that he had AIDS.

At one stage in the drink and drug-fuelled outburst Kelly said he hoped an IRA man “puts two rounds” in the constable.

The 39-year-old, of Naroon Park in the city, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, assault on police and disorderly behaviour in a hospital.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard violence flared close to the home of a man known to him on June 13 this year.

Kelly began shouting sectarian comments in the street after being denied entry to the house

Crown counsel Mark Conlon said the victim emerged at that point and tried to get him to leave Sandy Row – a staunchly loyalist part of the city.

Punches were exchanged before the injured party fell to the ground.

CCTV footage showed Kelly continuing to hit and kick him while he appeared to be unconscious.

The victim sustained broken nasal bones, a fracture to the spine and further injuries to his chest and eye socket, the court heard.

Kelly was arrested but due to his condition had to be taken to the Mater Hospital for medical treatment.

He then threatened to wreck the ward, spat in a policeman’s face and lunged at him in a bid to bite his nose.

Kelly told the officer: “I have AIDS and I spat on you.”

Further sectarian remarks were shouted as the disorderly episode continued in the hospital.

“He was saying things like ‘Come on you black and tans’ and ‘Up the ‘Ra’,” Mr Conlon submitted.

Despite being warned that a sick child was being treated nearby, Kelly refused to moderate his behaviour.

He shouted: “Good, I hope she’s scared for the rest of her life. Do you think I give a f***, I’m a lifer.”

The court heard Kelly launched the attack just a day after being released from custody in a separate case.

Defence barrister Sean O’Hare said he went on “a bender” which involved taking a cocktail of drink and drugs before going to the wrong address on Sandy Row.

He claimed that the initial incident would have ended sooner if the victim had decided not to follow his client through the area.

Despite suggesting there was confusion over who threw the first punch, Mr O’Hare accepted: “The level of violence displayed by the defendant was far in excess of anything the injured party threatened towards him.”

Sentencing Kelly to 10 months in custody, District Judge Francis Rafferty told him: “Your record is appalling, and matched by your behaviour in these incidents.”

by WrongdoerGold1683

23 comments

  3. What a scum bag. Only 10 months?

    He said he was a lifer, does that mean he wanted to go back to prison because he was scared of being free? I think there was a character like this on Shawshsnk Redemption?

  4. What a rat. Hopefully gets his back doors smashed in in Maghaberry.

  6. Imagine this guy and Stephen Weldon met in prison? Can we get Netflix to PPV that?

  7. Maybe the Ra could deliver some medical care for him then.

  8. The defence barrister sounds came awfully close to victim blaming with those remarks.

  9. Comparing BREAKING SOMEONE’S SPINE with saying “up the Ra” is ridiculous lol. Glad he’s locked up tho! W**ker!

  10. “*Despite being warned that a sick child was being treated nearby, Kelly refused to moderate his behaviour.*

    *He shouted: “Good, I hope she’s scared for the rest of her life. Do you think I give a f***, I’m a lifer.”*”

    What a horrible bastard. Being under Maghaberry would be too good for him.

  13. God has a sick sense of humour. He let’s SCROTES like that walk the earth yet gives leukaemia to innocent kids

  15. What a dickhead, I’m sure he’ll go on the straight and narrow after that.

  18. Hopefully there’s a cell block full of Loyalist Paramilitary guys with his name on it, see if he keeps on chanting there

  20. Seriously challenges the notion of reoffending. Aren’t we supposed to slap on – “10 months IF he completes alcohol/drug awareness courses etc”

    Assaulting police and health care staff? Thought that also was its own charge

  22. Genuine question, this man is clearly extremely dangerous and I would personally like to know what he looks like in case I have the terrible luck to run into him one might in Belfast. He sounds absolutely horrible, truly awful and he should be put away for a long time!

    Why do some people convicted get their photo in news but others don’t?

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