David McGovern pleads guilty to drunken assault of neighbour in Gordon

A grumpy 61-year-old man hit ‘snapping point’ and bashed his neighbour in Canberra after a long running conflict about noise reached boiling point.

David Owen McGovern faced the ACT Magistrates Court on August 3, 2023. Picture: Sam Turner

A Canberra retiree has attacked another man in a drunken rage after a long running neighbourhood feud reached boiling point.

David Owen McGovern was fuelled by alcohol and rage when he feverishly attacked his neighbour on May 28 after hearing his victim move a number of items onto their shared fence.

In the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, it was revealed the Gordon retiree had been drinking in an effort to get to sleep due to the noise.

The court heard the alcohol only fuelled his anger which led to him going into his own backyard after hearing wire drop against their fence about 11.40pm.

“Shut the f--- up,” McGovern told his neighbour.

“Get f---ed,” his neighbour replied.

David Owen McGovern leaving court. Picture: Sam Turner

The 61-year-old then told his neighbour to go out to the front.

His victim believed they were only moving their verbal argument away from the house.

The neighbour was then set upon by McGovern who repeatedly punched his victim.

Both wives of the men finally intervened and stopped the fight.

Police were eventually called and the retiree was taken away in the paddy wagon.

Defence lawyer Allara Freedman said McGovern had no history of violence and had recently retired after a career as a fire and safety officer.

Ms Freedman said references tendered to the court spoke about the good character of a man who would often volunteer to help his neighbours with gardening and renovations.

David Owen McGovern. Picture: Sam Turner

The court was told both men had been at loggerheads for years over noise disputes, with this being a “source of rising conflict”.

McGovern’s lawyer said the Gordon man finally hit “snapping point” just before midnight and went over to his victim.

Ms Freedman submitted her client thought it was a “hit or be hit” moment once they took the argument outside but accepted responsibility for the attack, and was extremely sorry for the harm he caused.

Prosecutor Hannah Mitchell disagreed, and said the assault involved “repeated strikes” to the victim while McGovern was fuelled by alcohol.

McGovern pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was fined $2000.

A conviction was recorded.