Brendan Zane Dougherty in court for wilful damage at McDonald’s
A 31-year-old man who took a crowbar to ten McDonald’s self-serve kiosks after a dispute over his order has admitted he has ‘anger management issues’.
Police & Courts
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A disagreement with staff at the Gympie McDonalds restaurant over a refund on an order for 30 hot cross buns and a frozen coke turned so ugly it ended in the arrest and imprisonment of the customer.
Brendan Zane Dougherty, 31, pleaded guilty via videolink in Gympie Magistrates Court to charges, including wilful damage, stealing and possession of drug utensils.
The court heard that on the night of April 26, 2023, a dispute occurred after Dougherty demanded a refund on his order of 30 hot cross buns and a frozen coke at the Gympie McDonalds.
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He returned an hour late wielding a crowbar wrapped in a towel and smashed in the screens of 10 self-serve kiosks, amounting to more than $26,000 in damages.
The court heard how on his way out, he stole an extendable bollard from the outdoor dining area, carrying it out under his arm.
He was arrested by police the next day and has been in custody since.
Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said Dougherty had finally “accepted he has anger management issues” despite a history of aggressive offences.
“You’re saying that he’s only now realised he’s got an anger management issue after having had the benefit of probation four times already?” acting magistrate Raelene Ellis asked.
Mr Anderson said Dougherty had a number of mental health diagnoses, including paranoid schizophrenia, drug induced psychosis, post traumatic stress disorder, and depression.
ON the day of the McDonald’s incident, Dougherty had been arguing with his father and the incident was “was an unfortunate explosion” towards people unrelated to his frustration, Mr Anderson said.
In addition to his early plea of guilty, Mr Anderson asked the court for compassion as Dougherty’s mother had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Ms Ellis sentenced him to two years jail suspended after six months, counting his time served in pre-custody sentence.
He was ordered to pay $3606 in restitution, as insurance covered the rest of the damages.
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