Assault victim 'happy' Covid-19 mask covered scars
Three people who admitted the assault were sentenced on Wednesday
- Published
A woman who needed more than 20 stitches to her lip after a “senseless violent assault” in Londonderry was happy wearing a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic because it covered the scars on her face, a court has been told.
The woman and her partner were assaulted after trying to stop a driver who was driving erratically in the Clon Dara area of Derry on 22 February 2020.
On Wednesday, Ethan Dorney, 22, from Swilly Gardens, Derry; Eoin McBrearty, 23, from Rathkeele Way in the city and Chelsea McLaughlin, 24, from Glenside Road, Derry were sentenced for the attack.
Judge Neil Rafferty told Londonderry Crown Court the woman who was attacked still found it hard to look at herself in the mirror.
The court was told that on the day of the assault, police received a 999 call that two females were being attacked in Clon Dara.
The two women had observed a car being driven recklessly and pulled in to remonstrate with McBrearty who was the driver.
The three people in the car, the court was told, got out and attacked the women.
They were punched and kicked, while Dorney threw a bottle which showered one of the women in glass.
A member of the public who intervened was also hit on the head with the bottle, the court heard.
The assault lasted around four minutes, the court was told, and at one stage one of the woman was spat on.
'Custodial sentence'
Homophobic slurs were also shouted although judge Rafferty said he did not believe the attack had any homophobic undertones.
The court was told one of the women had significant injuries to her face, two shattered teeth and needed more than 20 stitches.
The judge told Dorney, who has 26 previous convictions and who admitted grievous bodily harm with intent that this was “a serious offence that requires a custodial sentence”.
He said the offences were aggravated by the fact the young woman ended up with “extensive facial scars.”
He sentenced Dorney to three years in prison with half to be served in custody and half on supervision.
McBrearty and McLaughlin admitted charges of assault on the women and McBrearty admitted the assault on the man who intervened.
McBrearty was sentenced to 80 hours' community service and two years' probation.
McLaughlin was given 18 months' probation.