Men handed out
FAMILY SET OFF TO ATTACK MAN WHO ACTED AS PEACEMAKER HOURS EARLIER
A GANG armed with knives and machetes attacked three men and a woman at a caravan park.
One man has been found guilty of attempted murder and three others convicted of grievous bodily harm after the savage attack which left the victims with horrific injuries.
The incident happened at about 4.30am on January 1, 2020, when a group of men entered a caravan site and attacked the occupants of two caravans with knives, machetes and billhooks.
Leaving their victims seriously injured, the attackers – some of whom are from Leicestershire – then smashed up a number of cars on the plot before making their getaway.
A police investigation revealed the attack took place after one of the victims had intervened to stop the assault of a member of the public a couple of hours earlier, as new year celebrations were taking place.
A trial at Northampton Crown Court heard that Patrick McDonagh, 37, of Crabb Street, Rushden, but formerly of White Gate Stables Caravan Park in Copt Oak Road, Markfield, attacked a stranger while he and a number of relatives were celebrating New Year’s Eve with another group, one of whom stepped in to defend the victim.
The two groups then went their separate ways, before a series of phone calls led to Patrick McDonagh, along with John McDonagh, 38, Bernard McDonagh, 20, and Charlie McDonagh, 21, driving to the site in Irchester in Northamptonshire, and attacking the man who had defended the assault victim, along with two other men and one woman.
The jurors in their trial returned guilty verdicts against all four men.
Patrick McDonagh was convicted
of the attempted murder of one of the men, two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent against the two other men, and possession of an offensive weapon.
John McDonagh and Bernard McDonagh, both of White Gate Stables, Copt Oak Road, Markfield, and Charlie McDonagh, of Bescot Croft, Birmingham, were all convicted of three counts of grievous bodily harm
with intent against the three male victims, and one count of possession of an offensive weapon.
Speaking after the verdicts, Detective Sergeant Ryan Catling said: “This has been an exceptionally long and complex investigation, which has involved the gathering and review of thousands of pieces of evidence.
“On the night of January 1, 2020,
these defendants showed a complete disregard for life and inflicted some horrific injuries on their victims, who will be dealing with the after-effects of this savage attack for the rest of their lives.”
The four defendants were all remanded into custody ahead of their sentencing hearing, which will take place on a date yet to be set.
A 24-year-old man charged in
connection with the incident was found not guilty of attempted murder, four counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.
A 17-year-old boy who was also on trial was also cleared of four charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.