Paul McGirr vigorously defended Paddy Cornwall, bassist for renowned rock outfit Sticky Fingers, in the Downing Centre Local Court on a charge of affray relating to an incident between Cornwall and lead singer Dylan Frost.
While an application for discharge on mental health grounds was refused, the presiding Magistrate sentenced Cornwall to an intensive corrections order in the community for 18 months.
Speaking to Tone Deaf, Paul McGirr said there had been ongoing issues “with Paddy looking after Dylan Frost” before Dylan instigated the fight that night.
“There’s been well documented court cases in relation to [Dylan’s] behaviour and his conditions with schizophrenia and everything else,” said McGirr. “Paddy was the number one fan and number one supporter of him. They were more like close brothers having a fight.”
McGirr, a former police officer, will also be representing Dylan when he appears in court in the coming weeks on the same charge of affray.
In court yesterday, Dr. Olav Nielssen said that a lot of the fighting during the incident was in defence.
“[It was] almost theatrical,” Paul McGirr told Tone Deaf. “It was him trying to make Dylan stay down on the ground because Paddy has been the victim of a number of assaults at the hands of Dylan.”
Police confirmed in court yesterday that Dylan had a knife on him during the incident, which was found during their search. Paul McGirr told Tone Deaf Paddy was aware that Dylan had the knife.
“Neither party wanted police involvement,” McGirr said. “There was no charge of assault. All they were charged with was a charge of affray and with an affray charge you don’t need an actual victim.”
Paul McGirr tendered a personal note to the court as evidence of the pair’s friendship on 1 March 2021. The note was written by Paddy on paper featuring the Royal Prince Albert letterhead and given to Dylan in hospital.
The handwritten note read: “Here cuz I love you. Unconditionally. It sucks it came to this after such a lovely day. I really enjoyed it. Until that last part. Let’s get it together you bratty bastard.”
Sticky Fingers’ lawyer: ‘Dylan Frost was released from hospital without any injuries’ | Tone Deaf
