I turned down MMA fighter on a night out – so he punched me

An East Kilbride-based beauty therapist recounts how a single punch from an MMA fighter during a casual evening transformed her life. Anne Marie Boyle, a mother of two, was left unconscious after refusing Sean McInnes’ advances in a pub in September 2024. The attack caused severe facial injuries, including a fractured eye socket and cheekbone, along with a brain injury that triggered seizures. These consequences forced her to abandon her thriving business, lose her driving licence, and grapple with lasting confidence issues.

The Night Out

Boyle was at a pub in South Lanarkshire with her cousins, a place she wouldn’t typically visit. They had come to watch a psychic performance. “It was a quiet night, but things quickly turned into a nightmare,” she said. She recalled that McInnes, who had competed in the Lion Fight 68, persisted in his approach despite her repeated refusals. “He wouldn’t leave us alone,” Boyle explained. “Someone asked if he didn’t understand ‘no’—but he did, it was just not the response he desired.”

“I was knocked unconscious. Immediately after that, he knocked another boy unconscious,” Boyle said, describing the escalation. “He pushed my cousin so hard she was screaming. Then, without warning, he struck me in the face.”

Medical Consequences

Following the assault, Boyle spent three weeks in hospital. A maxillofacial surgeon later revealed that McInnes had dislocated her vagus nerve, a critical pathway connecting the brain to organs like the heart and lungs. The injuries left her with chronic pain and involuntary tremors, while her diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) caused her body to react unpredictably. “My mental symptoms often feel worse than the physical pain,” she said.

Legal Outcome

McInnes, who had competed in a major Muay Thai event, was sentenced to 21 months in prison in March. He initially denied the attack but confessed on the day of his trial. Boyle expressed disappointment that the sentence wasn’t longer, fearing his return to family life. “He’ll be able to drive and work again,” she said. “But I can’t, because I might collapse at any moment.”

Boyle now seeks to raise awareness about the dangers posed by individuals like McInnes. “I’m sharing this story to protect women who might not have the same support system,” she added. “Those who aren’t as strong or resilient. I want to ensure they don’t face the same fear and uncertainty I’ve endured.” Her two daughters remain central to her motivation, as she strives to rebuild her life while navigating the lingering trauma of the incident.