‘James McClean tweet’ sectarian hammer attacker gets eight year sentence

42-year-old Paul McGarrigle, of Foyle Crescent, Newbuildings, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a charge of criminal damage.

The charges relate to an incident on December 21, 2012 in the Bonds Street area. Londonderry Crown Court heard McGarrigle used a hammer to assault the 19-year-old who had moved into the area just three weeks before.

Judge Philip Babbington said it was an ‘appalling case’ in which a young man was ‘badly beaten in his own home for no other reason than the defendant considered he was of the wrong religion to be living in that area.’

Whilst Judge Babbington said reference submitted on behalf of McGarrigle spoke highly of him and his cross community work he also said that it was ‘very hard to believe that they relate to the defendant as his actions on this night were in stark contrast to what had been written about him.’

Passing sentence Judge Babbington handed down a determinate sentence of eight years-four years to be spent in prison and the remaining four on licence.

During the trial for the offences defence counsel for McGarrigle had claimed that comments made by Republic of Ireland international footballer James McClean on twitter about wearing a poppy had sparked the attack.

The court heard during trial that McGarrigle and a group of men had arrived at the house in Ebrington Street in the early hours as a house warming party was in progress. They used a hammer to force entry to the house causing damage to the front door. McGarrigle called the victim a ‘fenian b*****d’, adding he was a ‘fenian b*****d living in Bonds Street’.