Court House ‘slugger’ now struggling with alcohol abuse
The man who slugged Christian morals campaigner Graham Capill after he admitted child sex abuse charges in 2005 now admits he is struggling with alcohol and needs a drink to get out of bed in the morning.
Daniel Andrew McNally, 41, is now in custody awaiting sentence and hoping for the alcohol and drug rehabilitation he needs after pleading guilty to 10 charges in the Christchurch District Court.
Capill was the leader of the Christian Heritage political party and was the national voice of Christian politics for 12 years, before admitting child sexual abuse.
McNally walked up to him outside the Court House, called him a child molester, and punched him, leaving him sprawled on the ground and crying. Capill’s lawyer Jonathan Eaton QC wrestled McNally to the ground to stop the attack.
Capill was eventually jailed in July 2005 for nine years after he admitted sex offences including rape against three young girls. He was then aged 46.
McNally, of Upper Riccarton, has repeatedly appeared at court since then and today admitted charges of assault, three of driving with excess breath-alcohol – the aggravated form because he has previously been convicted of the same charge at least twice – two of driving while suspended, and four of shoplifting.
McNally is sometimes seen going onto the roadway to wash windscreens on cars stopped for the traffic lights outside Eastgate Mall.
Speaking by video-link from the Men’s Prison today, he pleaded guilty and then told Judge David Ongley: “I have had a problem most of my life with alcoholism.”
He said he had now started having seizures, and had been trying to get to Wellington for nine months to get into a Christian drug and alcohol rehabilitation course.
“I have been depending on alcohol to get through the day. I also have bipolar disorder. I say the wrong thing and do the wrong thing. I need help. I want to be a better person.
“I have to have a drink to get out of bed.”
He said he had offended deliberately to go to prison so that he could get help.
Probation, however, reported that McNally had come off a year’s supervision only a week ago and that had included alcohol and drug treatment. The course had not been a success because of McNally’s intoxication and verbal aggression. His current motivation “appears to be in line with his court appearance”, the officer said.
McNally asked: “What’s the best way to get better?”
Judge Ongley replied: “That’s a big question. It’s got to be answered by somebody else.”
The judge remanded McNally in custody for sentencing on December 2 and asked for a probation report and a full assessment by the Community Alcohol and Drug Service so that the report could be considered by the sentencing judge.
Category: Focus
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