Judge's scathing takedown of thug family in one of UK's 'worst ever street fights'

The family launched a vicious attack on a group of men and women leaving a club in Birmingham - wich spiralled into several minutes of mayhem before cops intervened

A family was slammed in court for instigating one of the UK's "worst fights" – which saw a mum-of-12, her husband and their teenage son unleash barbaric violence on a group of partygoers.

Ellen Sweeney, 39, alongside her husband Thomas Sweeney senior, 43, and their 18-year-old son Thomas Sweeney junior, teamed up with David Mongan, 18, and at least four more family members as they launched a vicious group attack on several men and women leaving a Glamorous nightclub in Birmingham's Gay Village.

One man was knocked unconscious after he was punched, kicked and stamped on, while a woman suffered a cut across her chest from a glass bottle. Another was struck into having seizures. Other victims suffered various cuts and bruises after being caught in the commotion that unfolded in the early hours of July 15 last year.

During sentencing, Judge Dean Kershaw said: "You are all cowards, complete and utter cowards, engaging in violence against people when they were intoxicated and drunk. Using that mob culture to attack people in that way, this is one of the worst violent disorders in this city with multiple people being attacked, assaulted, kicked in the body and kicked in the head."

He said: "This is one of the worst violent disorders in this city with multiple people being attacked, assaulted, kicked in the body and kicked in the head. In various ways you all took part watching, engaging, encouraging others by acts or individual acts of violence. It was gratuitous at times."

Prosecutor Alura Bather said the incident was triggered by a "verbal disagreement" between Thomas senior and an Asian male on Hurst Street, which quickly turned "physically aggressive". Senior later alleged racial abuse, but no evidence supported his claim.

CCTV footage caught the rowdy family causing mayhem in the street, with Thomas junior launching two punches and 14 kicks at the first victim, and dad Thomas senior joining in on the assault. The court was told that Ellen Sweeney then punched a woman in the face and called her a “whore” after getting into a verbal altercation with her.

This ignited further chaos as more family members jumped into the fight. A friend of the woman was glassed across the chest by one of the defendants' relatives, while an innocent male bystander was knocked off a large concrete bollard.

Thomas junior then attacked a taxi driver who stepped out of his can after noticing the commotion, while Ellen Sweeney was seen throwing multiple punches. The female victims tried to escape towards a nearby Dixy Chicken and even attempted to flag down a bin lorry driver for help. But they were chased and assaulted again – including by Mongan – who punched and kicked one of the women while they were on the ground. Police arrived shortly after and arrests were made.

The Sweeneys entered guilty pleas for violent disorder, but failed to show up for their sentencing hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday – marking their second no-show in two weeks. They were supposed to face the music at the end of August but pulled a no-show, prompting Judge Kershaw to give them one more shot.

Mongan, described by his defence lawyer, Philip Brunt as “immature” and “intoxicated”, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Brunt added: "He wasn't thinking of the consequences. He describes his actions as reckless, being young and stupid and he says he regrets it."

Thomas junior, who had no previous convictions, was handed two years and four months in a youth detention centre, while Thomas senior was sentenced to two years and ten months. Defence counsel Jordan Warren pointed out his client's “significant amount of trauma”, mental health issues, and responsibilities as a father to “a large number of children”.

Ellen Sweeney faced one year and 11 months. Jas Dhaliwal, defending, told the court Sweeney was “extremely ashamed”, apologetic, and remorseful.