Punched patron of Ulster Reform Club until he lost vision in broad daylight attack

Adam Crawford broke the other man’s eye socket during the drug-fuelled assault in the city centre.

The 26-year-old, of Lenadoon Avenue, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and disorderly behaviour.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard the victim was attacked in broad daylight after he left the Ulster Reform Club with friends on May 25, 2024.

As the group walked from the Royal Avenue premises towards Castle Street, the defendant and a female associate followed and shouted abuse, calling them “paedos” and “perverts”.

Crawford then confronted the injured party, knocking him to the ground before getting on top to deliver a series of further blows. “He punched him numerous times in the face, causing him to lose vision,” a prosecution lawyer said.

Other members of the public and nearby security guards eventually intervened to stop the unprovoked attack. The victim sustained blunt force facial injuries, including a broken eye socket, two black eyes, cuts, concussion and blurred vision.

It was confirmed, however, that there was no long-term impact on his sight.

Defence lawyer Pearse MacDermott said CCTV footage of the incident depicted “a bit of banter” between the two groups before Crawford became violent.

“He felt he was standing up for (the girl) with him at the time, but his behaviour cannot be excused in any circumstances,” the solicitor accepted.

“The level of violence used in the city centre was entirely inappropriate to any perceived slight.”

Mr MacDermott added his client remembers little about the incident because he was on drugs at the time.

With Crawford currently in prison for separate assaults, District Judge Natasha Fitzsimons extended the period he must serve behind bars by imposing a new 10-month sentence.

She told him: “No doubt this was a very distressing and frightening experience for the victim just walking along in the city centre. This was a sustained assault which continued while he was on the ground.”