In a disturbing incident, a Belfast man has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for strangling and assaulting a woman at a bus stop. Ryan Gerard Murray, a man of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to charges of non-fatal strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm during the incident that occurred on May 30th last year.
The court heard that a couple driving along the Antrim Road in North Belfast witnessed the attack, initially believing the person on top of the woman was performing CPR. As they approached the bus stop, they realised the man was in fact strangling the woman as she lay on the ground. The couple then intervened, with one of the male motorists placing himself between the woman and Murray until the police arrived.
During the incident, the court was told that Murray and the woman were arguing about money, and as the woman walked away, Murray pulled her arm and punched her once on the left side of her face. Both Murray and the woman were reported to be intoxicated at the time.
While the injured party and the defendant were known to each other, the Crown prosecutor stated that this was not a case aggravated by domestic abuse. However, the court heard that a large portion of Murray’s 66 previous convictions were linked to his issues with drugs and alcohol.
Murray’s solicitor acknowledged that his client’s addiction problems have been a “blight” on his life, but expressed that steps have been taken to address them. The solicitor also noted that Murray has shown “genuine remorse” and an acknowledgement that he needs to “change his life and turn it around.”
Judge Patrick Lynch, presiding over the case at Belfast Crown Court, sentenced Murray to serve half of the 22-month term in prison and the remaining half on supervised licence. The judge emphasised the serious and long-term physical and mental impact that incidents of non-fatal strangulation can have on victims.
This disturbing incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued efforts to address issues of addiction, violence, and the protection of vulnerable individuals in our communities.
