A young woman hit a man so hard with a hurley stick on the head that he developed a clot and was left fighting for his life.
Aine Doohan was just 17 when she viciously attacked Donal Ferry outside a takeaway in Bunbeg, West Donegal.
Mr Ferry had been involved in a fracas involving Ms Doohan’s then-boyfriend outside Sgt Pepper’s chip shop on May 9th, 2009.
However the night ended in horrific circumstances when Doohan reached over a wall for a hurley stick and striking Mr Ferry on the side of the head.
CCTV footage produced at Letterkenny Circuit Court showed the brutal moment when Doohan hit her victim on the head with the pointed part of the hurley stick.
He was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast with serious head injuries including a clot.
He said he remembers nothing after being hit on the head and then wakening in hospital.
Doohan, of Meenamillar, Derrybeg pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Ferry whom she had been friendly with.
She told the court that she was taking drink and drugs and didn’t know why she had attacked her victim.
“It was a despicable, horrible thing that I done and I can’t explain how sorry I am. He was a friend of mine. I’m upset and sorry for what I did.
“I cannot explain what happened and he didn’t deserve it. I accept all responsibility for it. I actually told him how sorry I was and he told me he forgave me,” said Doohan.
Barrister Fiona Crawford said Doohan had a tough upbringing and her mother had left the family when the accused was just eight years old and she was raised by her grandparents.
Doohan said she was surrounded by violence and just ended up taking drink and drugs and leaving school aged just 15.
At a previous sitting of the court, another man Daniel Duffy of Lower Coteen, Derrybeg, was found guilty of assault and possession of a weapon.
Judge John O’Hagan described the attack as “savage” and said Mr Ferry was lucky to be alive.
“Any sane individual would be horrified by what happened here. I don’t know what was in her system but she was out of control,” he said.
Defence barrister Ms Crawford said Doohan had written the victim a letter of apology and had gathered €10,000 from her family to offer Mr Ferry as compensation.
Judge O’Hagan remanded Doohan in custody until November 4th next when she will be sentenced with her co-accused.
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