Kieran McCormick sentenced over bizarre snooker ball attack on young woman at Port Kennedy Tavern

A drunken man that left a young woman with 15 stitches after throwing a snooker ball at her face has been told that he behaved like “an aggressive idiot”.

Kieran Francis John McCormick, 35, appeared via video link before Rockingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday, pleading guilty to one count assault occasioning bodily harm and one count breaching a family violence restraining order.

Prosecutor Sen. Const. Jessica Anderson told the court that on July 17, 2022, McCormick was at the Port Kennedy Tavern when he became verbally aggressive with staff and swearing at them. Staff took him to another area inside the venue to calm him down.

As staff directed McCormick to the exit, he walked past a snooker table and picked up two snooker balls putting them inside his jacket pockets.

McCormick continued to swear and would not leave the venue.

He then took out one of the snooker balls from his pocket and threw it at the victim’s face.

The victim was rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital where she received 15 stitches for a split lip that extended up to her nose.

Additionally, on September 5, 2022, about 7pm, McCormick was served a 72-hour family violence restraining order.

One of the terms of that order included that he was not to remain within 15m of the protected person.

Police explained the order to him and he said that he understood.

Just three hours later, McCormick attended his mother’s home in Port Kennedy.

McCormick’s brother was present at the time and saw McCormick attempting to gain entry to the home.

Police were called and he was arrested nearby.

His explanation to police was: “I have nowhere else to go.”

Lawyer Alan Fort said that at the time of the incidents McCormick had been dealing with “undiagnosed mental health issues”.

“While in custody, this has had a significant impact on his attitudes,” Mr Fort said.

“He is thinking a lot clearer and wants to turn his life in a positive direction.

“While in custody he has stayed away from negative influences and he wants to engage with group and one-on-one therapy.”

Magistrate Linda Keane said that the whole incident was “mind blowing”.

“A patron was injured, you split her lip open and split her face,” she said. “She was taken to Fiona Stanley because she couldn’t be treated at Rockingham Hospital.

“I don’t need a victim impact statement to know this has had exceptional physical and psychological impacts on the victim.

“You were acting like an aggressive idiot; how awful for this young woman.

Ms Keane said it was an example of “pretty extreme violence” but despite this, the pre-sentence report said McCormick was “not a bad person” but that he has “just been doing some really bad things”.

“You need to deal with issues and trauma in a healthier way,” Ms Keane said.

McCormick was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment conditionally suspended for six months.