A man has been charged in relation to what police are calling a homophobic hate crime, which happened in Armagh on Sunday, March 30. The perpetrator is accused of verbally assaulting another man and subjecting him to an “unprovoked attack” where he punched and slammed a taxi door on him.

According to a report in the Belfast Telegraph, 41-year-old Paul Halligan appeared before the Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, April 1. There, he received four charges, which included assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, disorderly behaviour and possession of the class C drug pregabalin.

The court heard that Halligan allegedly approached the victim on the street, calling him “f*ggot and queer”, to which he responded, “Yes, I’m queer and proud of it.” According to the police, the attacker continued his barrage of verbal abuse before pulling the man out of a taxi, punching him in the head and ribs and smashing his glasses. Halligan also allegedly slammed the car door against the victim at one point.

The man managed to break free and get back into the taxi, which drove off and brought him to the police station. Officers attended the scene in Armagh after members of the public and local bar staff reported the alleged hate crime.

The victim suffered cuts above both of his eyes, and the blows to his ribs have caused pain “when he takes a breath”.

Constable Mack told the court the two men “seem to be” strangers, but the defendant claims they know each other “from a while ago”. He also denies verbally assaulting the man, but “accepts that he struck him after he was spat on,” defence solicitor James Lannon stated.

While Constable Mack objected to the accused being freed on bail, it was granted by Judge Brian Archer with conditions attached. These include an alcohol ban, a curfew and no contact between the defendant and complainant.

The case was adjourned to April 29, with the judge warning Halligan: “If there is any further offending or breach of bail terms, you will be remanded into custody.”