Drunken Bridegroom Kicked And Punched His New Wife In Bridal Suite On Wedding Night

A drunken groom kicked and punched his new wife in their bridal suite after she told him off for being sick on the floor after their wedding.

Kevin Joseph McGrath, 28, had started drinking on his wedding day at 10am and became so drunk that he cannot remember anything after the evening meal.

When he and his new wife Melissa returned to the White River House Hotel in Toomebridge, Co. Antrim, after the wedding, Mr McGrath threw up on the floor and Mrs McGrath began 'scolding' him for his behaviour.

Drunken groom Joseph McGrath kicked and punched his new wife Melissa (right and together left) in their bridal suite on their wedding night after she told him off for being sick on the floor

The groom, a joiner, then attacked his bride, kicking and punching her and putting his hands on her throat, causing her to feel 'very scared'.

Police were called to the hotel and Mrs McGrath was taken to hospital, while her husband was passed out in the room.

When Mrs McGrath told what had happened, staff at the hotel woke him up and kicked him out of the premises.

McGrath pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm but appeared in court again for sentencing.

Despite the judge describing it as an 'extremely serious assault', McGrath - who has not seen his daughter since the incident in October - was spared jail.

During the hearing, Antrim Magistrates' Court heard how Mr McGrath claimed to have 'no memory' of events after 8pm and could not account for his wife's injuries.

Defence barrister Michael Ward said the wedding was supposed to be a 'very special day' but that it had ended in disaster due to Mr McGrath's drinking.

Mr McGrath put his hands on his new wife's throat, causing her to feel 'very scared'. She is pictured above

He added that the defendant had been 'stressed out' in the run-up to the wedding and that incidents on the day - including the best man ‘taking himself elsewhere’ and the wrong music being played - had compounded that stress.

Describing how Mr McGrath became drinking at 10am, Mr Ward told the court: ‘He can’t remember anything after the meal.’

Mr Ward said his client had been lying in bed when hotel staff woke him up and told him to get out, saying his wife claimed she had been assaulted.

‘After being kicked out he doesn’t know how he got home,’ the barrister added.

Mr Ward said Mrs McGrath described her husband as ‘bad-tempered’ and ‘stubborn’ but said he had never been violent.

He added that the defendant wanted to apologise 'unreservedly' for what had happened.

‘He has lost everything as a result of what happened,’ he told the court.

Mr Ward said McGrath made full admissions and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity in court. He said there was no explanation for the violence as McGrath had no history of such offending.

Sentencing, Judge Alan White put Mr McGrath on probation and ordered him to do 100 hours of community service.

He also ordered the defendant to pay £300 compensation to his wife.