Eamonn Magee wins appeal against Louise Mullan assault conviction

Former world boxing champion Eamonn Magee has won an appeal against being found guilty of beating up a woman.

The 44-year-old had been facing a four-month jail sentence for assaulting Louise Mullan in July last year.

But his conviction was overturned on Wednesday after she failed to turn up for a re-arranged appeal hearing.

Ms Mullan previously accused Mr Magee of launching a no-warning attack during a late-night drinking session at a friend's apartment in north Belfast.

Mr Magee, known as The Terminator during a professional career that saw him capture the WBU welterweight belt and enjoy Commonwealth success, denied the common assault charge.

At a contested hearing before Belfast Magisrates' Court earlier this year, he instead claimed she subjected him to a barrage of up to 10 punches he likened to legendary US middleweight Marvin Hagler.

Mr Magee, of Eskdale Gardens in Belfast, said he only grabbed her arms to stop the blows.

However, he was found guilty of assault and ordered to serve four months in prison.

He was granted bail at that stage pending a planned challenge to the conviction.

Since then Mr Magee suffered the loss of his 22-year-old son, Eamonn Magee Jr, who was murdered in west Belfast in May.

Belfast County Court heard on Wednesday that the appeal hearing has already been adjourned twice - once because of the bereavement and another occasion when the witness did not attend.

Prosecution counsel confirmed on Wednesday that Ms Mullan was again not present, having "forgotten" about the case.

His application for a further adjournment was resisted by a defence barrister.

The defence barrister said: "The appellant has been having to deal with this case hanging over his head for a significant period of time, and also had to deal with a personal tragedy in his life.

"This case has now run its course."

A judge agreed that no exceptional reasons for another adjournment had been advanced so granted the defence application to allow the appeal.