Glengormley restaurant attack: Kyle Lyness gets suspended term for punching uncle
A man who subjected his uncle to a "savage" attack as he lay on a restaurant floor in Glengormley has been given a suspended sentence.
Kyle Lyness, 28, knocked Marc Vasey to the ground and punched him several times, a Belfast court heard.
Lyness of Tullywest Road in Nutts Corner, County Antrim, received a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for three years.
He pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Lyness was also ordered to pay Mr Vasey £1,500 in compensation.
Belfast Magistrates' Court heard the victim was attacked at the Indian Ocean restaurant in Glengormley, County Antrim, last May.
He had been out for dinner with his wife when Lyness, who was also on the premises, joined them for drinks.
A prosecutor said the defendant became verbally abusive and launched his attack as they were about to go outside in a bid to defuse the situation.
Despite his aunt's attempts to calm him, Lyness punched Mr Vasey to the floor, before following up with more blows, the court heard.
"The defendant used both fists to strike the upper body and facial, causing his face to become bloodied," the prosecution lawyer said.
"Members of staff intervened and pulled him from the motionless victim."
Mr Vasey sustained a fracture and blurred vision in the assault.
In his statement to police, Lyness claimed his uncle was "mouthing in my ear all night".
A defence barrister said his client had shown "real remorse" over what he did.
Lyness described his own actions as being "wrong, shameful and something I deeply regret", the court heard.
A judge said the attack merited a prison sentence.
However, he said that based on the defendant's clear record and early admission of guilt he had decided to suspend the nine-month sentence for three years.
Ordering him to pay his uncle £1,500 compensation within 26 weeks, the judge warned: "If you fail to pay that you will go to prison for the default period of 45 days."