Shane Russell McGuirk jailed for common assault in Byron Bay Local Court

The Victorian man has been jailed for a violent, public attack on a woman in Brunswick Heads.

A Victorian man has been jailed for a violent assault in Brunswick Heads. Picture: Liana Boss

A Victorian man has been given a prison sentence after he violently attacked a woman in a fight where members of the public had to intervene.

According to court papers St Albans man Shane Russell McGuirk was in Brunswick Heads with his brother and former partner when an argument started with the brother over a goon sack in June this year.

The woman tried to intervene in the fight on the footbridge on South Beach Road when McGuirk called her a “sl** and wh***” and grabbed her right arm, pushing her down and causing her to fall onto his brother.

McGuirk, 35, and his brother continued to fight over the goon sack before the woman grabbed it and threw it off the bridge to stop them fighting.

McGuirk then grabbed the victim by the throat and said “you dirty sl**, you wh***” holding her throat for up to three seconds and threatening to throw her off the bridge.

McGuirk’s brother tried to stop him.

The woman went to the police station but was unable to find help before she went to Crabbes Creek and collected her belongings to leave.

A short time later she reached the end of South Beach Road where McGuirk was sitting on a wire fence and walked towards her swearing at her.

The woman recorded him and said to him she was going to have a threesome with his ex and her boyfriend.

McGuirk then grabbed her by the hair and forced her to the ground. When she got up he said “come fight me, come fight me” and verbally abused her.

He then grabbed her by the arm, dragged her on the ground and punched her in the face in an altercation that lasted between five to 10 minutes.

Members of the public who witnessed this came running over and intervened.

McGuirk previously pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault and one count of contravening a domestic violence order in Byron Bay Local Court before being sentenced on Monday.

Defence lawyer Paul Cranney told the court his client had been antagonised by some of the words the victim had said in the “unsavoury episode.”

Mr Cranney said McGuirk had experienced significant loss in his life when his mother and step mother both died.

He told the court McGuirk had worked as a diesel mechanic, boiler maker and concreter before he lost his job during Covid, which made him drink and smoke heavily.

Mr Cranney said McGuirk was remorseful to the victim and did not wish to be in a relationship with her.

McGuirk was sentenced to a 12 month prison sentence, back dated to June 25, with a six month non-parole period.