Duffy appeals assault conviction
LURGAN republican Collie Duffy is to appeal the 12-month suspended sentence he received last week for allegedly assaulting a Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) soldier in 1997.
The sentence (suspended for two years) was handed down at Craigavon Magistrates' Court last Thursday, 26 August.
Duffy had been charged with assaulting a British soldier when he was stopped by a patrol on 9 October 1997. Duffy, who was in Lurgan town centre shopping with his wife and daughter, was spotted by members of an RIR patrol.
One soldier ordered Duffy out of his car. During a search, the armed soldier violently `yanked' Duffy's trouser-belt up, hurting his testicles. Duffy was then further assaulted.
During the incident, both Mrs Duffy and their daughter were crying uncontrollably.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)