Man who attacked five people in car park sent to prison

Declan McDade launched an unprovoked attack on three woman, then proceeded to assault two men who came to their aid. Two of those injured were attacked with a broken bottle.

Belfast Crown Court heard McDade (25) was identified and later arrested after one of his female victims took a picture of him on her mobile phone, which she then uploaded onto Facebook.

Branding the incident as an unprovoked and vicious attack on five innocent people, Judge Patricia Smyth revealed some injuries were so severe that they required hospital treatment.

McDade, from Spamount Street, admitted seven offences committed on Belfast’s Tomb Street on August 1, 2015, and was handed a three-year sentence. He was given an additional two years and 10 months for an armed robbery which he and co-accused Shaun Gault (29) of Edlingham Street, carried out three months after the car park attacks.

Defence barrister Martin O’Rourke revealed McDade had a long-standing history of drug misuse, and that when he carried out both offences, he was under the influence of drink and drugs.

Mr O’Rourke revealed McDade is now taking steps to battle his addictions.

Defence barrister Jon Connolly said Gault had a “chronic” and “catastrophic” addiction to drugs.

Judge Smyth handed Gault a sentence of four and a half years, which will be divided between two years and three months in custody and the same period on licence.

McDaid’s total sentence was five years and 10 months. Half will be served in prison, with the remainder on licence.