Dion Lawrence McQuoid in Warwick Magistrates Court over car park assault

A Warwick man has claimed he had a ‘brain snap’ after the victim made an ableist comment against his wife during an intense public dispute that started over a parking space.

A Warwick man who headbutted a woman during a heated public dispute has claimed he had a “brain snap” after the victim made a derogatory remark against his wife with cerebral palsy.

Dion Lawrence McQuoid was in the undercover car park at Rose City Shoppingworld with a friend of his wife’s at about midday on December 23 last year when an argument broke out between the friend and another woman.

Warwick Magistrates Court was told McQuoid’s friend lashed out at the victim for parking too close to their car, with the verbal fight quickly escalating to a physical altercation.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said the 53-year-old Warwick man then “got in the face” of the other woman and headbutted her.

“He had a hat on and it didn’t even knock his hat off, but it made her step back and she had a small red mark,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

“It wasn’t the ‘Liverpool kiss’ type of thing, Your Honour. They were in each other’s faces, he jabs at her, and she steps back.”

Sergeant de Lissa said footage of the fight captured the entire incident, including the comments reportedly made by the victim that McQuoid claimed prompted the assault.

Dion Lawrence McQuoid, 53, pleaded guilty in Warwick Magistrates Court to assault occasioning bodily harm. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Amber Acreman stated it was the other woman calling McQuoid’s wife, who suffered from cerebral palsy and related musculoskeletal issues, “a r----d” that caused her client’s “brain snap”.

“My client says he’s witnessed his wife be abused, belittled, and humiliated for her disabilities for nearly 20 years,” Ms Acreman said.

“(He) accepts it was completely disproportionate and inappropriate, and he shouldn’t have involved himself in an altercation that was ultimately between two other people.”

She asserted the offending was entirely out of character and an embarrassment for the Warwick man, as McQuoid had neither substance abuse issues nor any other criminal history.

Ms Acreman added that her client had been going to a psychologist for the past five months to help deal with the depression associated with the court proceedings and caring for his wife after a recent stint in hospital.

Magistrate Julian Noud acknowledged McQuoid’s outrage on behalf of his wife, but said there had to be a better way of handling the situation.

“Your behaviour on that day was appalling. It’s a very undignified thing to do, to become involved in fights such as this in a car park,” Mr Noud said.

“I accept your emotions got the better of you, but a stronger person can resist that.”

McQuoid pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was fined $850 and no conviction was recorded.