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<\/p>\nTeen Attacks Woman\u2019s Head with Power Drill in Suspected Homophobic Hate Crime<\/b>
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A teenager attacked a woman<\/a> with a power drill at a nightclub in Northern Ireland in an alleged homophobic attack. Police are treating the 17-year-old\u2019s attack on Brenda McLaughlin, which took place at Ruby\u2019s nightclub in Strabane, as a hate crime.<\/p>\n The Belfast Telegraph<\/em> reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n The teenager was accused of having an offensive weapon, a power drill. He is also alleged to have unlawfully and maliciously caused grievous bodily harm to Ms McLaughlin or intended to do her GBH, and is further accused of stealing a power drill belonging to the nightclub.<\/p>\n A police patrol was alerted by members of the public that a woman<\/a> was lying injured on the ground with blood coming from her head and lapsing in and out of consciousness. She was also having fits and seizures.<\/p>\n District Judge Peter King said it was a \u201cgrossly violent, inexplicably violent incident\u201d.<\/p>\n The detective added: \u201cThe victim said she believed it was in relation to her homosexuality.\u201d<\/p>\n The accused told police he had homosexual relatives and did not bear any ill will, his solicitor Ciaran McGuinness said.<\/p>\n The victim was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry where her condition was initially life-threatening but later downgraded.<\/p>\n The teen<\/a> is in custody and is set to be arraigned on May 18.<\/p>\n A 17 year old male<\/a> has been charged with GBH with intent, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and theft of a drill. It follows an attack on a woman<\/a> in Strabane during the early hours of Saturday morning. The teenager is due to appear in Court in Omagh on Monday.<\/p>\n \u2014 PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) May 6, 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The post Teen Attacks Woman\u2019s Head with Power Drill in Suspected Homophobic Hate Crime<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n