A woman who orchestrated the gang beating of a man that left him needing his spleen removed has failed in her appeal to be freed.

Mary Whelan, 61, lead a group who beat up a man in Belmont Circle a decade ago. She fled to her native Ireland and was convicted in August 2005 in her absence of affray and causing grievous bodily harm, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Whelan returned from Dublin in March this year and was arrested at Stansted Airport following a BBC Crimewatch appeal two months before.

She was jailed for two years at Harrow Crown Court in April.

On Tuesday, she argued at the Court of Appeal her prison sentence should be suspended - prompting an immediate release - on the grounds she was too ill to remain locked up on account of her heart condition, depression, diabetes and agoraphobia.

Mr Justice Burnett, one of the three judges who dismissed the appeal, said: “Whilst we have no doubt that she suffers from an unfortunate combination of medical conditions, we are unpersuaded that they are sufficient to justify the very exceptional course of suspending the sentence.”

The court heard Whelan, originally from Wexford in Ireland, had been drinking in The Lough Inn, in Warwick Parade, Kenton Lane, Harrow. with her husband on the night of May 24 2004, when an argument broke out.

Mr Horgan, a friend of the barman, stepped in to calm down the situation, but Whelan punched Mr Horgan and threw an ashtray at him before leaving with her friends. Minutes later, Mr Horgan himself left the pub and was confronted outside by a group of at least 15 people, lead by Whelan.

“There he is,” she shouted, sparking a sustained beating of Mr Horgan. He was knocked to the ground and punched and kicked repeatedly, before Whelan decided he had had enough and called the assailants off. The attack left Mr Horgan so badly injured that he had to have his spleen removed.

Mr Justice Burnett said: “This was an attack upon someone who had tried to take the heat out of a volatile situation. It was an attack to teach him a lesson, orchestrated by Mary Whelan. The victim was confronted by a gang of at least 15 people at night and beaten up.

“Whelan triggered the incident and had sufficient control of the gang to bring the attack to an end. We conclude that, taking account of all of the matters, the recorder was right not to suspend the sentence.”