A man who launched a bottle attack after a Facebook feud boiled over has been told he was “lucky not to be facing a murder charge” after becoming part of a “wolf pack.”
Daniel Finnigan was jailed for 16 months and 15 days by Sheriff George Way, who told him: “Kicking on the head is a complete lottery some people walk away, others die.”
Finnigan, 20, of Fyffe Street, Dundee, had previously been told by Sheriff Way that he “could end up dead” due to a culture of violence among young men in the city.
He had initially been charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty last month to the lesser charge of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
He admitted that on November 10 2012, at the playing fields at Menzieshill High School in Yarrow Terrace, while acting with others unknown, he assaulted Kevin McHugh by repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a bottle and repeatedly kicking him on the head and body.
The sheriff court heard Finnigan had clashed with Mr McHugh in a pub which escalated into Facebook challenges being issued by Mr McHugh.
Finnigan initially ignored them, but he flipped when he spotted Mr McHugh and ran at him, hitting him over the head with a bottle before he and a gang of others launched a savage beating.
Depute fiscal Trina Sinclair said: “After the assault, Mr McHugh couldn’t stand unaided and his friend carried him home.
“He couldn’t get up the stairs, so was propped up in the close until the ambulance arrived.
“He was taken to Ninewells Hospital and had facial injuries and had to undergo surgery on his broken leg the next day.”
Solicitor Anika Jethwa said: “Mr Finnigan had initially ignored the Facebook challenges posted by Mr McHugh, but his temper got the better of him.
“He fully appreciates how serious this is and the remorse he has shown is clear.
“He accepts that one misplaced kick could have caused horrific injuries. If he could turn back the clock he would have run away.”
Sheriff Way said: “It is only luck that he wasn’t facing a murder charge. This was a very serious assault.”
He told Finnigan, “The fact is you actively joined a wolf pack attack on a single individual that could well have resulted in his death.”