As reported by the Irish Times, Joshua Friel and Eoin Curley Rafferty pleaded guilty at Letterkenny District Court to robbery, assault causing harm and criminal damage against a Chinese national who had been touring with the Mamma Mia! stage show.

The pair, along with another man, beat their victim with a baseball bat and robbed him of money and a mobile phone during a brutal attack. Friel, who was 17 at the time, had swapped pictures and phone numbers with the Chinese man on Grindr, and then arranged to meet him.

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The victim took a taxi from Derry, where he was staying, to Newtowncunningham ten miles away, to meet with Friel. Once there he was directed to a remote local area where Friel was waiting, seemingly alone. Two other men then emerged and all three, including Friel and Rafferty, attacked him.

The court heard that the men accused him of being a paedophile

The men gave the victim cash to get a taxi back to Derry, where he attended Altnagelvin Hospital to be treated for his injuries, which included suspected broken ribs.

Solicitor for Friel and Rafferty, Frank Dorrian, said his clients took the matter very seriously. They were accompanied by members of their families to court.

Judge Paul Kelly adjourned the case until January 29, 2018 to allow for a Probation and Community Service report.