Teenager attacked by gang in Mullingar fast-food restaurant
A man who attacked and assaulted a teenager at a McDonald’s restaurant in Mullingar two years ago has been told to engage with probation services with a view to completing voluntary community work.
Judge Bernadette Owens issued the warning to Azal Shah (20), Belvedere Hills, Mullingar, Westmeath, following an incident at McDonald’s, Pearse Street, Mullingar, Westmeath on April 11, 2023.
Sgt Orla Keenan said gardaí arrived at the scene shortly after 8pm, and the victim was taken by ambulance to the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar. The incident left the man with blood coming from his nose, the court heard.
It was revealed Mr Shah was identified and arrested when gardaí examined CCTV footage from inside the restaurant.
It showed the youth being set upon by a group of teenagers seconds after he had exited the toilet area.
A medical report handed in to the court referenced a “loss of consciousness” as a consequence from a punch to the back of the head.
Judge Owens took issue with those assertions given how neither had been mentioned during an earlier jurisdiction hearing.
A victim impact statement was provided, elements of which defence solicitor Louis Kiernan said his client was at odds with. He said Shah, in spite of his guilty plea to assault causing harm and genuine remorse, was the only to come before the courts.
“We are accepting what happened on the day shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “We are the only ones who have ended up before the court and we have pleaded guilty to it.”
He said Mr Shah was aged 18 at the time of what he termed as an “unfortunate situation” to befall a man who had cooperated fully with gardaí and accepted his culpability throughout. He said his involvement in the melee had only come after an “episode of verbals” inside the restaurant involving a number of others.
“He did get involved in the physical assault and that is caught on camera,” said Mr Kiernan, pointing out Shah was not privy to the shouting that had preceded what ultimately followed.
“He was interviewed and was fulsome in his admissions and in his apology during that interview.”
Mr Kiernan maintained his client had since broken off his association from a peer group he knew at the time and was intent on returning to education having previously undertaken a PLC business administration course.
Given Mr Shah’s previously unblemished record, Judge Bernadette Owens directed a restorative justice report to be carried out on Mr Shah, to include voluntary community work.
Mr Shah was remanded on bail to Mullingar District Court on September 4.