Bradley Andrew Hare pleads guilty to affray on state border

A civil construction worker has admitted to his part in a brawl near the Coolangatta night precinct that left one man with a traumatic brain injury and another in hospital.

A civil construction worker has admitted to his part in a group bashing that left one man in an induced coma.

Bradley Andrew Hare pleaded guilty to affray in Tweed Heads Local Court on Monday.

According to police facts the 28-year-old was headed towards Stuart Street from Griffith St in Coolangatta with a group of friends at the same time two men left the Moxys nightclub on January 3 about 12.50am.

Hare walked across the road to go to the 7-Eleven before proceeding to Stuart Street on the other side of the path to join the rest of his group.

Once the men reached Navigation Lane a fight broke out between three men and the two victims.

Hare then ran across the road and tackled one of the victims.

Witnesses saw men punching and kicking the victims before running towards the rear of the Dolphins Hotel. It was accepted Hare‘s role only involved the tackle.

One victim got up and stumbled towards Griffith St and located police.

The other victim was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital where he was placed in an induced coma suffering a traumatic brain injury, a skull fracture, sternum fracture and other head injuries.

The man who flagged the police was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital with cuts to his eyelid and multiple abrasions.

Hare attended Tweed Heads police station on April 11 where he was arrested.

He told police at the time he was on prescription medication and had drunk copious amounts of alcohol and did not remember the incident.

He refused to say who the other men involved were, out of fear of retribution.

In court, defence lawyer Jack Mulherin told the court his client had a long-term relationship come to an end around the time he found out he was not the biological father of his child, causing him to reach an all time low and use medication for his mental health.

Mr Mulherin said on the night of the incident his client had drunk too much alcohol and had made the choice to deviate from the group and had not been one to throw any kicks or punches.

Hare was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order.

The other participants in the fight are yet to be identified or charged.

Originally published as Bradley Andrew Hare pleads guilty to affray on state border