Travellers armed with blades launched horror attack at Risley site

Arthur McGinley, his wife Margaret and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named, encroached on the traveller camp on Silver Lane at 11.23pm on Thursday, February 2.

The row erupted following a dispute over who should pay for a family member's funeral.

Prosecuting, Simon Parry told Liverpool Crown Court how the trio targeted Arthur McGinley’s sister and her family’s caravans on the site and had travelled down from Ellesmere Port to carry out the attack.

CCTV footage showed a van entering the encampment at 11:23pm. At the time the victim was asleep in her caravan when she was awoken by the sound of a window being broken followed by Arthur shouting ‘come out I am going to kill you’.

Arthur stood before his sister holding a large weapon which he threw to the side, revealing a belt strapped to his waist with knives attached to it.

“He took a Stanley knife out and took a slash at her arm,” Mr Parry said. “Margaret hit the victim to the right side of her face with a baseball bat.

“They were making threats to harm her.”

The 17-year-old boy joined the pair making threats to the victim who was alone in her home, before they began smashing windows and putting panelling through outside the caravan.

“She was screaming for help,” Mr Parry said, while Margaret McGinley continued shouting threats of ‘come out we are going to kill you’.

Arthur, 36, told the victim, ‘You do not mess with me, I will be back’.

The trio then moved their attack onto two other surrounding caravans where other families were sleeping and awoken to the horror.

The incident took place on a caravan encampment on Silver Lane in Risley (Image: Warrington Guardian)

“The victim was in his caravan with his wife, son and two children. Arthur and the 17-year-old were smashing his windows with meat cleaver weapons,” Mr Parry told the courts.

Margaret, 38, was causing further damage with a baseball bat, before the attack moved onto the last caravan they targeted on the site.

“The victim was in bed with his partner. He saw a sharp object coming at his caravan window.

“There were more threats to kill. All three defendants fled the scene in the Toyota vehicle,” Mr Parry added.

One of the victims called the police and officers were able to track the silver van down in Preston Brook where the three defendants were arrested.

The vehicle was searched, and an ice pick and two pickaxes were found.

Following questioning, Arthur admitted he had been drinking prior to the offence but denied any involvement in the incident.

Pictured: Arthur McGinley (Image: Cheshire Police)

Arthur has one previous conviction while Margaret and the youth are of previous good character.

The three defendants appeared for sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday all facing charges of affray.

Arthur faced further charges of ABH and possession of a bladed article, the youth faced another charge of possession of a bladed article and Margaret faced a further charge of possession of an offensive weapon.

Defending Arthur McGinley, Anthony O'Donoghue told the judge how the dispute had been triggered by a disagreement between families on payment of a funeral for Arthur’s deceased father.

“The defendant was not coping well with the death of his father. He travelled in a very intoxicated state.

“The defendant truly regrets what he did, and he is ashamed,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

The barrister told the courts how Arthur and Margaret are the parents of 11 children, all of whom had to be split up and were put in care when the parents were arrested and were not bailed for six weeks.

Pictured: Margaret McGinley (Image: Cheshire Police)

He added how the children were ‘traumatised’ by these events and what effects this may have if this was a permanent situation.

Defending Margaret, Jo Maxwell reiterated the affects a custodial sentence of both parents would have on their 11 children – with the youngest child only being the age of a toddler.

Ms Maxwell said her client was ‘ashamed’ of her behaviour on the night.

Recorder Paul Taylor concluded the sentencing, saying: “These offences are so serious that only immediate custody can be justified.”

Arthur received a 33-month custodial sentence, while Margaret was handed a 27-month sentence.

The youth’s case has been moved to juvenile court to be dealt with further.

The pair cried as they left the dock and shouted ‘I love you’ to their family members in the stand.