Four men have been charged over the horrific attack on a man in the car park of a McDonald’s restaurant in Penrith last weekend.
32-year-old Shannan Rushworth, from Kingswood, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after he and a friend were allegedly set upon by a group of men at around 1.30 on Sunday morning.
His friend, a 34-year-old man, suffered minor facial injuries.
The incident occurred in the car park of the McDonald’s near Panthers Leagues Club on Mulgoa Road.
Video footage of the attack was spread on social media while police obtained CCTV footage from the restaurant.
On Wednesday, police executed two search warrants at St Clair and Glenmore Park.
Four men, aged between 19 and 22, were later arrested at Penrith Police Station.
A 19-year-old St Clair man was charged with ‘cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent’, and ‘affray’.
A 19-year-old Glenmore Park man was charged with ‘assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others’, ‘affray’, and ‘common assault’.
A 20-year-old Glenmore Park man was charged with ‘cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent’, ‘assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others’, and ‘affray’.
Another 20-year-old Glenmore Park man was charged with ‘assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others’, and ‘affray’.
All four men were refused bail to appear in Penrith Local Court yesterday.
Mr Rushworth, a former Penrith Emus rugby union player, suffered serious head injuries but it is expected he will recover, largely thanks to the quick action of witnesses at the scene who provided medical attention before paramedics arrived.
Troy Dodds is the Weekender’s Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.
