Daniel Finnigan attacked Kevin McHugh after Facebook challenges
A man has admitted attacking another man with a bottle after a feud which escalated on Facebook.
Daniel Finnigan, 20, assaulted Kevin McHugh as he walked across playing fields at Menzieshill High in Dundee last November.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard the men clashed in a pub earlier in the year with challenges then made by Mr McHugh on social networking site Facebook.
Sheriff George Way deferred sentence for background reports.
The court heard that Finnigan initially ignored challenges by Mr McHugh which he issued after the pair originally clashed.
However, when he spotted Mr McHugh walking across the playing fields on 12 November he ran at him, hitting him over the head with a bottle, before he and a gang of as many as five others, beat him up repeatedly kicking him on the head.
A 12-year-old boy who witnessed the attack described seeing Mr McHugh "screaming in pain" as he was carried from the scene.
Fiscal depute Trina Sinclair said: "After the assault Mr McHugh couldn't stand unaided and his friend carried him home.
"He was taken to Ninewells Hospital and was examined. He had facial injuries, but also a broken leg."
Finnigan was initially charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
Anika Jethwa, defending, said: "Mr Finnigan had initially ignored the Facebook challenges posted by Mr McHugh - but his temper got the better of him when they had this chance meeting."
Sheriff Way remanded Finnigan in custody "for the protection of the public".
He said: "Kicking someone on the head is a lottery - it can result in death.
"The court can't tolerate this suggestion that vigilante, macho, self-help like this can be allowed in a civilised society.
"Violence tends to escalate and and will get out of hand.
He added: "These young men are prepared to use violence in this way and that will end up with someone being killed - and Mr Finnigan, you could be the next victim."