Daryl Proctor (18), from the Fountain, was just shy of his 16th birthday when he and a crowd attacked a group of friends clearing up after a barbeque.

After the attack in the early hours of July 16, 2006, at Chapel Road, 32-year-old father-of-one Paul McCauley was left brain damaged.

Another friend Mark Lynch was knocked unconscious with a broken jaw while another, Gavin Mullan, escaped relatively unharmed despite someone standing over him saying "get him' or 'kick him".

Proctor had been charged with the attempted murder of Mr McCauley before he admitted causing him and Mr Lynch grievous bodily harm with intent and attempting to cause GBH to Mr Mullan.

Outlining the prosecution case, Mr Ciaran Murphy QC said that Proctor's guilty plea was accepted on the bases they "cannot say definitively" who caused the injuries to Mr McCauley.

"However, the defendant has accepted his guilt for the offence, charged as a participant in a joint enterprise to carryout this violent attack".
Mr Murphy told trial judge Mr Justice Hart, who will pass sentence next week, that there were a number of aggravating features to the case.

"This was a premeditated attack involving a number of individuals who had to traverse an area of open land in the early hours of the morning to reach their victims.

"The attack was wholly unprovoked, and the only motivation was sectarianism.

" The focus of the attack was to the upper body and two of the victims had their heads stamped upon . . . this attack was executed in a chillingly calm manner." He added that initially Proctor denied any involvement.

Mr Murphy said that Proctor, despite his subsequent plea had "shown no remorse, despite the knowledge of the condition of the victim." He added: "the tragic consequences for Mr McCauley and his whole family have been cruelly devastating and life changing".

The prosecution lawyer further revealed that Mr McCauley who needs care, 24 - 7 "remains in a minimally conscious state" and that for him, "there is no potential for any recovery".

Defence QC Elish McDermott said that what happened to Mr McCauley was "unspeakable". However, in mitigation she said that Proctor had pleaded guilty and as a result Mr McCauley's family and the other injured parties did not have to "endure" a trial. The court would also have to consider Proctor's age at the time, said Ms McDermott.