'Homophobic' nightclub drill attack by teenager in Strabane leaves woman with hole in skull

Victim, 38, heard noise of power tool as she 'felt her head being twisted', court is told

An officer on the scene of the attack in Strabane, Northern Ireland (Trevor McBride)

A woman was left with a circular hole in her skull after she was attacked with a drill during a suspected homophobic attack, a court has heard.

Brenda McLaughlin believes she was targeted during the incident in Strabane, Northern Ireland on Saturday because she is homosexual.

Omagh Magistrates' Court was told Ms McLaughlin had been standing outside Ruby’s nightclub in the town with the alleged male assailant, 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, before the attack took place.

Police had been called to the venue by members of the public, who reported a woman lying injured on the ground with blood pouring from her head, suffering from fits and seizures.

Ms McLaughlin, 38, was taken to a high-dependency unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, where her condition was initially life-threatening before being downgraded.

"The victim has since told medical staff that she heard the noise of the drill and felt her head being twisted," an unnamed Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detective told the court.

"There does appear to be some sort of hole in the skull but I cannot say how severe it is."

The officer revealed no damage had been caused to Ms McLaughlin’s brain, although she had been left with a "circular" hole in her scalp.

"It does not appear to be deep," he added.

The teenager is accused of causing grievous bodily harm, as well as being in possession of an offensive weapon – a power drill.

He is further charged with stealing the drill from the nightclub.

District Judge Peter King said it was a "grossly violent, inexplicably violent incident".

The detective added: "The victim said she believed it was in relation to her homosexuality."

Ciaran McGuinness, solicitor for the accused, said his client told police he had homosexual relatives and did not bear any ill will.

District Judge King said there was a risk to the public and remanded the teenager in custody, to appear by video link at Strabane Magistrates' Court on 18 May.

The accused, wearing a tracksuit, appeared emotional and hugged his mother in the public gallery afterwards.

Additional reporting by PA