Racist attackers punched pregnant woman and tore off friend’s hijab

Two women punched a pregnant woman and pulled her friend’s hijab from her head in a racial attack. Eileen Kennedy, 28, and a 15-year-old female, assaulted Umaimi Musa at Royston Road, Glasgow, on September 3. The teenager also assaulted Ms Musa’s friend Mary Marandran, then five months pregnant.

As the women were sitting in a park they heard the phrases “f****** black African” and “f****** brings you to this country?” from one of the two accused before they were assaulted.

The incident was captured on CCTV which was shown to the court and the camera operator alerted the police as the incident happened.

Kennedy and her co-accused pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday to racially assaulting 41-year-old Ms Musa to her injury. Kennedy also admitted resisting arrest and claiming she had an infection before spitting on a police officer. The teenager admitted the racially aggravated assault on Mrs Marandran, 40, by repeatedly punching her on the head and pushing her to her injury.

The court heard the racist phrases were the precursor to the assaults.

Procurator fiscal depute Mark Allan, prosecuting, said: “The second named accused repeatedly punched the then pregnant Mrs Marandran on her head and pushed her.” He told the court that both accused demanded Ms Musa’s mobile phone and tried to grab it off her after she told them she was going to phone the police.

Mr Allan said she was punched on the head which caused her to fall to the ground. He added: “Once on the ground, she was repeatedly punched on her head and body, her hijab or headscarf as she can be seen wearing during the course of this incident was pulled from her head and she was robbed of her mobile telephone. Police officers were directed to the scene by those operating the CCTV.”

Both Mrs Marandran and Ms Musa were taken to the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow to be checked. Ms Musa had a bruised left cheek which was tender and swollen, a grazed knee and a sore neck. Mrs Marandran suffered no damage to her unborn baby but had some muscular pain.

Sheriff Kenneth Mitchell deferred sentence on both accused until a later date. Kennedy was remanded in custody and her co-accused remained on bail.

STV, 11 December 2012