Grandmother's Birthday Meal Ends in Violent Restaurant Assault
A grandmother launched a violent attack on restaurant staff using her high-heeled shoes after her party arrived late for a birthday celebration at a Liverpool steakhouse.
Mary McGinley, 42, from Skelmersdale in Lancashire, avoided immediate jail time this week despite admitting to assaulting employees at the Miller and Carter restaurant on Albert Dock.
Late Arrival Sparks Confrontation
The incident unfolded on December 7, 2022, when McGinley and her group arrived at the Liverpool city centre restaurant at 10.15pm for a 9.45pm booking. Staff informed them the kitchen had already closed and directed them to the bar area instead.
Prosecutor Isabella Denn-White told Liverpool Crown Court that two male members of the party were denied alcohol service after failing to provide identification proving they were over 18. When the entire group was asked to leave, they initially refused and lingered outside the premises.
Violence Escalates with High Heel Weapon
The situation deteriorated rapidly as several members of the party forced their way back inside the restaurant and became hostile toward staff member Maderson Roche-Jones. According to court testimony, Roche-Jones grabbed a chair to protect himself as diners raised their fists and advanced toward him.
McGinley then removed her high-heeled shoe and struck Roche-Jones over the head with it. Chef Angelo Muto emerged from the kitchen and attempted to intervene by restraining a male member of the group in what was described as a "bear hug."
The restrained individual retaliated by hitting Muto to the back of the head, causing him to collapse to the floor. McGinley then attempted to punch Muto repeatedly in the face, leaving him with a cut, bump to the head, and swelling to his right eye.
Staff Injuries and Emotional Impact
Both employees suffered significant injuries from the assault. Roche-Jones sustained a lump to the back of his head and bruising to his ribs, while Muto's injuries included facial trauma and head wounds.
In a victim impact statement, Muto expressed his distress, stating: "Nobody has the right to assault me at my place of work. I'm disgusted with their behaviour. I've been left very stressed and shaken as a result of the incident."
Roche-Jones added: "When the incident took place, I was scared as I didn't know what they were going to do. I'm worried something like this could happen again."
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
The party fled the restaurant after being informed that police had been called. McGinley was eventually tracked down through her restaurant booking but failed to attend a pre-arranged interview with Merseyside Police. She was arrested in December 2023, approximately one year after the assault.
McGinley has three previous convictions covering eleven offences, including theft and obstructing police officers. Her defence lawyer, Chris Macmaster, told the court that McGinley had experienced mental health difficulties and had recently lost a family member in Ireland.
Appearing in court wearing a black blazer over dark clothing with shoulder-length black hair, McGinley pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating.
Recorder Mark Ainsworth handed McGinley a six-month prison sentence suspended for eighteen months. She must also complete a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to ten days and serve a three-month electronically monitored curfew from 9pm to 5am.
Additional Defendant in Related Case
A second defendant, Charlie Doherty, previously pleaded guilty to a public order offence related to the same incident, which occurred on his eighteenth birthday. The now twenty-one-year-old received a conditional discharge from the same court in September 2024.
The violent episode serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by hospitality workers and the serious consequences of assault in workplace environments.
