Grandmother Escapes Immediate Jail After High Heel Assault in Restaurant Reservation Row
A 42-year-old grandmother has been handed a suspended prison sentence after she struck a waiter with her high heel during a violent altercation over a dinner reservation at a Miller and Carter restaurant. Mary McGinley, who also attempted to punch a chef during the incident, avoided immediate custody following a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.
Late Arrival Sparks Violent Confrontation
The disturbance occurred on December 7, 2022, when McGinley and her party arrived at the Miller and Carter branch at Albert Dock in Liverpool at 10:15 pm for a birthday meal. Their reservation had been scheduled for 9:45 pm, but they were informed that the kitchen had already closed. As an alternative, the group decided to sit at the bar, but tensions escalated when two members of the party were refused service due to a lack of identification.
Prosecutor Isabella Denn-White detailed how restaurant staff, including waiter Maderson Roche-Jones and chef Angelo Muto, asked the group to leave the premises. However, the party continued to linger outside the building before the atmosphere deteriorated further. The situation turned violent when some individuals forced their way back into the restaurant, shouting at Mr. Roche-Jones.
High Heel Used as Weapon in Assault
During the confrontation, Mr. Roche-Jones picked up a chair to defend himself as he retreated through the restaurant. McGinley then removed her high-heeled shoe and struck him over the head with it. Chef Angelo Muto intervened by attempting to restrain a male member of the group in a bear hug, but he was struck on the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
McGinley proceeded to attempt to punch Mr. Muto multiple times in the face, resulting in a laceration, a lump on his head, and swelling to his right eye. In a victim impact statement, Mr. Muto expressed that he felt very stressed and shaken by the incident, stating, "Nobody has the right to assault me at my place of work. I'm disgusted with their behaviour."
Mr. Roche-Jones sustained a lump to the back of his head and bruising to his ribs. He 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." The group eventually left the restaurant after being informed that the police had been called.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
McGinley was later traced through the reservation she had made but failed to attend a scheduled interview with Merseyside Police, leading to her arrest in December 2023. She has three previous convictions for 11 offences, including theft and obstructing police. In court, her defence lawyer, Chris Macmaster, highlighted that McGinley had suffered from mental health issues and had recently experienced a family bereavement in Ireland, where she planned to travel to support her father.
McGinley pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating. Recorder Mark Ainsworth sentenced her to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 10 days and to serve a three-month electronically monitored curfew from 9 pm to 5 am.
A second defendant, Charlie Doherty, who was 18 at the time of the incident, previously pleaded guilty to a public order offence. The now 21-year-old received a conditional discharge from the same court in September 2024.
