Strabane man in court charged with one punch attack that has left a man critically ill

A father of seven children who was the victim of an assault in Derry on Wednesday evening remains in a ‘stable but critical condition’ in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital a court heard today.
Teddy Roulston (29) of Ballycolman Estate in Strabane was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on June 11. A police officer connected Roulston to the charges and opposed bail.
She told the court that around 9.20 on Wednesday evening police were called to Waterloo Street in Derry after reports of a male lying unconscious. She said when they responded staff of a local public house were helping a man lying unconscious on the ground.
Police then examined CCTV and talked to witnesses and ascertained that the assault had occurred at 9.10 p.m. and they identified the suspect in the case and went to his address in Strabane and arrested him. The officer said that the defendant and the injured party had been drinking together earlier in the day at one bar in Waterloo Street.
A disagreement broke out when Roulston was alleged to have become aggressive towards a group of women they had fallen into company with. The injured party challenged the defendant and then they left and went to another bar. CCTV showed the two men then talking in the other bar but they ended up shaking hands.
The officer said that Roulston walked out of the bar followed by the injured party where they talked for about 30 seconds and then Roulston was alleged to have hit the injured party once on the chin.
Describing the CCTV as ‘uncomfortable’ to watch the officer said the man fell to the ground and hit his head off the pavement Roulston was then seen talking on his mobile phone and making no effort to assist.
He was then alleged to have said: “How do you like that, do you?”
The police officer said the injured party had ‘significant head injuries’ and would be sedated for at least the next five days. She said alcohol was a major feature and that police were worried that if released Roulston would re-offend.
A defence solicitor said her client had expressed his ‘guiolt and sorrow’ about the incident had had repeatedly asked police about his condition. She said it was a ‘one punch’ situation and it wasn’t as if it was there was any intention to ’cause serious injury.’
She added there was no premeditation and added that her client was so intoxicated that he remembered little about the incident. She said her client was a man who could not handle alcohol.
District Judge Barney McElholm no one could use any excuse about one punch injuries. He told Roulston that it was ‘amn extremely serious matter and some might consider it fortunate for you that you are getting bail.
Roulston was release don his own bail of £1000 with one surety of £500. He will report to police daily, wear an electronic tag, observe a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and he is not to enter Derry except for court appearances.
He will appear again on July 10.