Hamilton knife victim speaks out over ordeal

Mar 11 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

THE victim of a knife-wielding thug who nearly killed him in the Palace Grounds two years ago has spoken about his ordeal this week.

Twenty-year-old Kieran Dooey was aged just 18 when violent yob Stuart McLean almost cut his throat during the fight in the busy Hamilton retail park on July 27, 2008.

The incident happened during an altercation between Kieran’s friends and McLean’s, and had arisen from racial abuse towards Kieran’s pal, Ryan Shear.

When Ryan confronted the thugs as they sat in their car, violence broke out.

Two of Kieran’s friends were also seriously injured.

Antony Brophy (20) was scarred for life after being bottled in the face, while Graham McCartney (18) almost lost an ear in a knife attack.

Ryan Shear’s Honda car was also written off due to vandalism after the injured lads fled.

This week, Kieran told the Advertiser that he felt lucky to be alive.

He said: “I’m obviously pleased he was found guilty in court. But I think it should have gone to the High Court. The guy nearly took my life.

“What makes it worse is that I had nothing to do with the fight. I got the worst of it all, and nearly died.”

Kieran claimed doctors told him that, had the knife wound been one millimetre closer to his jugular vein, he would have died.

“I had an operation right away, but it has psychologically affected me,” he continued.

“I dropped out of college, where I was studying welding and fabrication. I was paranoid about the state of my face.”

Last week at Hamilton Sheriff Court, a jury found McLean (21), of Paisley, guilty of six separate charges, while acting with others, related to the incident near to Homebase in Palace Grounds Retail Park.

He was convicted of assaulting Kieran Dooey by striking him on the head with a knife or similar instrument to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment and to the danger of his life.

The thug was also found guilty of assaulting Graham McCartney by punching him to the body, taking hold of him and striking his head and body with a knife to his severe injury.

The court heard that Graham’s ear had almost been severed as a result.

McLean was also convicted of assaulting Anthony Brophy by striking him on the face with a bottle to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Further charges included a racial assault on Ryan Shear, and racial abuse.

The court also heard that McLean, with accomplices, destroyed Ryan’s car after their victims had rushed to receive hospital treatment.

The attack was witnessed by dozens of motorists who had parked up at the retail park on the summer night.

The court heard that the attack started after Ryan had received abuse from McLean and his unknown cohorts from their Ford Fiesta car.

When the 20-year-old approached the thug, he and his friends were set upon with knives and bottles.

Kieran, who had not been involved in the fighting, received his wound after McLean ran over and struck him on the face with a knife.

“I wasn’t aware at the time how seriously I was injured. It felt like I had been punched.

But then I felt my face go all hot, and there was a lot of blood.

“When my friend started panicking, I knew it was serious.

“He had cut me from my earlobe to my chin, and it was close to my jugular. One millimetre closer and I would be dead.

“He knew what he was doing. You don’t carry a knife unless you really want to hurt someone.”

Despite three others being with McLean on the night of violence, only the 21-year-old faced charges.

At court last week, Sheriff Marie Smart deferred sentence on McLean – a first-time offender – until April 1, calling for a range of reports.

Bail was continued.