Man jailed for battering love rival with golf umbrella

A man was jailed on Thursday after breaking into a love rival’s home and battering him with a golf umbrella.

Belfast Crown Court heard that the two men were involved in a “love triangle” as they had both been involved in a relationship with the same woman - but not at the same time.

William McClean, 54, was handed an 18-month sentence by Her Honour Judge McCaffrey after he pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated burglary with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He broke into the other man’s flat on May 1 last year armed with an umbrella.

Prior to sentencing, the court was told by Crown prosecutor Gareth Purvis that the incident occurred at around 1.30pm, when McClean broke into a flat at Coniston Close in the Shankill area. The 59-year old occupant was asleep at the time but was woken by the sound of breaking glass and his front door being kicked in.

The occupant was then confronted by McClean in the hallway of the flat, and was hit over the head with a golf umbrella being brandished by the intruder. The occupant was also punched several times around the face and head.

We're used to attacks with golf clubs, but a golf umbrella is really breaking new ground!

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Man killed with golf club