Judge slams violence on Wollongong dance floor

By Veronica Apap
Updated November 5 2012 - 5:45pm, first published June 23 2008 - 11:42am
Rachel McManus was devastated that Renae Warden, who attacked her in a nightclub, was not jailed yesterday. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER
Rachel McManus was devastated that Renae Warden, who attacked her in a nightclub, was not jailed yesterday. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER

A Wollongong judge says he is sick of hearing about drunks bashing their victims over nothing more than an accidental bump on the dance floor.Judge Paul Conlon blasted the behaviour of violent drunks during a severity appeal yesterday by Renae Warden, who repeatedly kicked and stomped on Rachel McManus at Castros nightclub last year.The unprovoked attack began after Ms McManus, a 21-year-old former surf lifesaver, had an epileptic fit at the club and bumped Warden."The court and local courts in this community are becoming sick of this (behaviour)," Judge Conlon said of the violence."Time and time again, because people bump into each other on the dance floor, it seems to be a signal to mete out their own justice."Judge Conlon said the behaviour was typical of disgusting assaults the court was becoming too familiar with.He had earlier dealt briefly with Casey Goldrick who is awaiting trial charged over a glassing attack on Krystle Kelley on November 4 last year.Ms Kelley lost the use of one eye during the attack and Judge Conlon said a simple bump increasingly led either to a glass attack or repeated punching or kicking."It takes no more than a bump on the dance floor or a bump when people are passing outside the hotel for there to be an all-out war," he said."There can be no reasoning with the perpetrators of this type of offence."The incident happened about 12.45am on July 25 last year when Ms McManus fell to the ground with an epileptic seizure.While she was on the ground and her friends were asking people to give her room, Warden jumped on Ms McManus' head.When Warden was told to leave Ms McManus alone as she was having a fit, Warden said: "She pushed me" before kicking an unconscious Ms McManus several times in the head.The assault left Ms McManus with a brain injury which causes constant headaches.Warden, 23, of Cotterill Ave, Woonona, was sentenced to six months' jail in April, however she only spent four nights in custody.During the appeal agains the severity of the sentence, the court heard Warden did not have the option of periodic detention as there were no female beds left in the detention centre.Judge Conlon said jail was the appropriate punishment, however because Warden was young and the behaviour was out of character for her, he suspended her jail sentence and gave her a six-month good behaviour bond.Outside court, Ms McManus told the Illawarra Mercury she was devastated that Warden would not go to jail."I can't believe it," she said.Ms McManus said Warden, a Harp Hotel bar manager, had never apologised to her.She said her injuries had left her unable to work.

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