Grandmother Launches Violent Attack at Liverpool Steakhouse After Late Arrival
Staff at a popular Liverpool steakhouse were forced to arm themselves with chairs and deploy bear hugs to defend against a violent assault by a grandmother who arrived late for a booking. Mary McGinley, 42, from Skelmersdale, struck a waiter with her high-heeled shoe and attempted to punch a chef multiple times after her party was denied service due to the kitchen being closed.
Late Arrival Sparks Aggressive Confrontation
The incident unfolded at the Miller and Carter steakhouse at Albert Dock in Liverpool on December 7, 2022. McGinley and her group had booked a table for 9:45 pm to celebrate a birthday but arrived at 10:15 pm, by which time the kitchen had closed. Restaurant staff, including waiter Maderson Roche-Jones and chef Angelo Muto, informed the party they could not be served food and directed them to the bar area instead.
Prosecutor Isabella Denn-White told Liverpool Crown Court that two male members of the group were refused alcohol because they could not provide identification proving they were over 18. When all members of the party were asked to leave, they initially lingered outside the building before the atmosphere deteriorated dramatically.
Staff Forced to Defend Themselves with Improvised Measures
The situation escalated when some members of McGinley's group forced their way back into the restaurant and became aggressive toward Mr Roche-Jones. With fists raised and threats made, the waiter grabbed a chair to defend himself while backing away through the premises in a desperate attempt to protect himself from physical harm.
At this point, McGinley removed one of her high-heeled shoes and struck Mr Roche-Jones over the head with it. Chef Angelo Muto then left the kitchen to intervene, placing a male ringleader in a bear hug in an effort to eject him from the restaurant. This prompted the man to retaliate by hitting Mr Muto to the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
McGinley then attempted to punch Mr Muto several times in the face, resulting in a laceration, lump to the head, and swelling to his right eye. In a victim impact statement, Mr Muto expressed his distress, stating: "Nobody has the right to assault me at my place of work. I'm disgusted with their behaviour." He described feeling very stressed and shaken by the violent incident.
Physical and Emotional Impact on Restaurant Employees
Mr Roche-Jones sustained a lump to the back of his head and bruising to his ribs during the assault. He revealed in his statement: "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."
The violent group only left the premises after being informed that police had been called to the scene. McGinley was subsequently traced through the restaurant reservation she had made but failed to attend a scheduled interview with Merseyside Police, leading to her arrest in December 2023—a full year after the assault occurred.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing Details
McGinley appeared at Liverpool Crown Court wearing a black blazer over dark clothing with shoulder-length black hair. She pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating. The court heard she has three previous convictions for 11 offences, including theft and obstructing police.
Defence barrister Chris Macmaster highlighted mitigating circumstances, noting that McGinley had experienced mental health issues and a recent family bereavement in Ireland. He stated: "There is a shoe in the hand that is used. There are others involved in the altercation. One of the complainants is utilising a chair, arguably defensively."
Recorder Mark Ainsworth sentenced McGinley to six months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. The sentence includes:
- A rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 10 days
- A three-month electronically monitored curfew from 9 pm to 5 am
A second defendant, Charlie Doherty, who was celebrating his 18th birthday on the day of the incident, previously pleaded guilty to a public order offence. The now 21-year-old, also of White Moss Road South, received a conditional discharge from the same court in September 2024.
McGinley's defence noted her plans to travel to Ireland to support her father, who is now alone, while maintaining that her long-term intention is to remain at her Skelmersdale address with her family, which includes her children and two grandchildren.
