CCTV captures moment man’s face left in ‘complete mess’ after brutal beating over unpaid debt

Although Jonathan Barr was handed a 32-month prison sentence at Downpatrick Crown Court earlier this month Judge Geoffrey Miller KC told the 36-year-old that he was suspending it for three years due to “highly exceptional circumstances”.

The judge said while the attack which left the victim with multiple facial fractures was “utterly reprehensible”, Barr’s “explosion of uncontrolled violence” was in circumstances where the victim chose to put his interest above that of his former friend and to treat the undisclosed debt in a “cavalier manner”.

Barr, from Ballyvester Grove in Bangor, had entered a guilty plea to causing grievous bodily harm. However, that was not accepted by the PPS, which took the case to a trial on the more serious charge of GBH with intent, even though the victim refused to co-operate and testify.

At the end of his trial, the jury acquitted Barr of GBH with intent and Judge Miller told him that meant he was entitled to full credit for pleading guilty.

Turning to the facts of the case, the judge outlined how Barr had been walking close to his home with his children on June 2 last year when the victim jumped over a fence and the two men then had an “animated discussion”.

“The defendant confronted the victim about money owed to him and he gave various excuses for not paying back,” Judge Miller told the court.

He added that Barr then sent his children home, but when they had left the street, “the defendant turned and punched him twice to the face”.

Revealing that most of the “graphic and appalling” incident was captured on a nearby doorbell camera, the judge went on: “The injured party fell backwards to the ground from the first blow and hit his head on the ground on the kerb, and from this point on appears to be unconscious.

“Notwithstanding that, he [Barr] bent over him and punched him about the face a further 12 times, shouting verbal abuse as he did so.”

The defendant walked off, leaving the victim lying bleeding and unconscious, but he returned a short time later and put him into the recovery position, leaving again when a neighbour said she would contact the emergency services.

When the victim was examined at the Ulster Hospital, X-rays revealed he had suffered a “series of complex facial fractures”.

The judge listed the multiple fractures to his nose, eye sockets and cheek bones, saying that “his face was a complete and utter mess”.

Although there was no victim impact statement, Judge Miller said given the nature and extent of the injuries, “he will have been left with long-lasting damage, both physically and psychologically”.

“This was a brutal and merciless attack which could, in other circumstances, have led to a fatality and you facing a charge of at least manslaughter if not murder,” he told Barr who, “in stark contract to the aggression and violence” on this day, was a family man with a clear record who had contributed to his community.

Imposing the suspended jail sentence, Judge Miller warned Barr that if he committed any further offences he would serve the 32 months in addition to any other sentence.