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Paras freed after attack

01 March 1995

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Four paratroopers, serving with 1 Para at Normandy barracks, Aldershot, walked free from Winchester Crown Court in February after a ferocious drunken attack on a man that left him seriously injured. James McGuire was attacked outside a nightclub and spent 10 days in hospital as a result of his injuries, which included two fractured arms, broken ribs and head injuries. Mr McGuire has been unable to work since the attack.

Releasing the men - Lance Corporals Stuart Baillie and Justin Woodcock and Privates Craig Harris and James Collins - Judge David MacLaren Webster told the court that the public would not want to see them jailed for a "moment of madness". The soldiers were given community service and instructed to pay Mr McGuire compensation.

Following the court decision the paratroopers were subject to disciplinary action by their commanding officer. Although Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey McFall had the power to send them to a military prison or discharge them from the Army they were only given formal warnings and the two Lance Corporals were demoted.

One of the men, Lance Corporal Justin Woodcock, had a previous conviction for attacking a civilian. In 1992, after he returned from a tour of duty in northern Ireland, he attacked a youth and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay compensation to the victim.

Times 9.2.95.

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