Woman ‘nearly beaten to death’ by lecturer and a HSE carer
A YOUNG woman punched repeatedly in the head by a female lecturer has told how she was ‘haunted’ thinking she could have died in a pool of blood in the street.
Rebecca Kennedy said her ‘life changed forever’ after the ‘vicious’ attack by Guanitta Brady, 30, of Bates Park, Greenisland, Co. Antrim on February 5 last year.
She was also kicked in the head once by the lecturer’s father Gerard Brady, 55, of Laughill, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh as she lay in Market Street, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal after an altercation with the pair in a pub.
Mr Brady worked as a HSE carer for 24 years. Both defendants admitted assault causing harm to Rebecca Kennedy. Guanitta Brady also admitted assaulting Ms Kennedy’s boyfriend Simon Ferris.
Ms Kennedy told Donegal Town Circuit Court: ‘I was nearly beaten to death. I still find it hard to believe that it took three hours for the blood to be taken from my hair.
‘When I looked at the CCTV of the incident I could not believe I
She was struck 13 times in the head
had survived.’
Brady tearfully told gardaí that she could not believe what she had done, and said: ‘I don’t know where that anger came from.’
Ms Kennedy said: ‘I was hurt so bad I did not believe I would survive. When I woke up in the hospital, I thought I was in a car accident.’
She added that she was now suffering from depression and post traumatic stress disorder, had dark nightmares and had spent her savings on medical care.
Her boyfriend Simon Ferris, whom Brady admitted commonly assaulting, told the court he ‘thought his girlfriend was dead’ when he saw her on the street.
‘Her body was battered and bruised and she was unconscious.’
He said that both their lives had been altered irrevocably and they were fearful and could not go into places that they used to.
The court heard the Bradys had assaulted Ms Kennedy following an earlier incident in the smoking room of Dicey Reilly’s pub.
It also heard that gardaí found Ms Kennedy unresponsive when they arrived at the scene, and that CCTV evidence shown in court showed Brady with her right knee on Ms Kennedy’s head, repeatedly striking her after pulling her to the ground by the hair.
The accused struck Ms Kennedy 13 times on the head. CCTV also showed Gerard Brady walk towards the two women and kick Ms Kennedy once in the head.
At voluntary interview, both Bradys made admissions and expressed remorse.
Guanitta Brady said she had been drunk and on medication.
Medical reports read out in court said Ms Kennedy was taken to Sligo General Hospital, unconscious on arrival, and had a tube inserted in her nose. She was disorientated and had pains in her head.
Defence counsel for Gerard Brady, Peter Nolan said the assault was ‘entirely out of character’.
Gerard Brady had been drinking heavily when he saw his daughter bleeding from her ear where an earring had been pulled out.
Mr Nolan said his client went out to the street and went over to the ‘two fighting ladies’, so there was a context to this matter.
Gerard Brady did not know how he lost his temper, but he accepted that he lost it, and said it was a ‘mystery’ why he had kicked Ms Kennedy in the head.
Mr Nolan said the consequences for Gerard Brady would be the loss of his job as a HSE carer .
Counsel for Guanitta Brady Mr Toner said his client was 30 years old and ‘should have an incredible career in front of her’.
She took ‘full responsibility’ and made ‘full admissions’ for what had happened.
And while alcohol was a factor it was never an excuse, the counsel added.
There was a psychiatric report and the mix of alcohol and medication was ‘not a wise choice’.
Guanitta Brady has a Phd in Software Engineering and was a lecturer at Belfast Metropolitan College at the time.
An article appeared in the Belfast Telegraph and matters appeared on social media which resulted in the defendant being called to a meeting which resulted in Brady losing her job.
‘Academically, the world should be her oyster’, said the counsel.
She said she wished she could explain her actions ‘but can’t’.
Owing to her age, she has suffered more than her father on social media and was a lecturer who had lost her position.
Judge John Aylmer said this was a ‘very troubling case’ that needing ‘careful consideration’, and adjourned sentencing until December 4.