Assault case is struck out

A PAIR OF former friends attended the District Court, one as defendant and the other as injured party in an assault case.

Katie O’Neill (22), Weston House, Ballinaboola, admitted assaulting Gemma Hanlon at the Centenary Stores in Wexford.

The judge heard that they have been good friends for years but the relationship ended on the night in question.

Ms O’Neill left the other woman with a black eye and a neck injury, as well as pulling out some of her hair.

She had never come to the unfavourable attention of the garda before or since.

A victim impact statement was read out in which Ms Hanlon revealed that the incident had left her anxious, reserved and defensive.

She had nightmares for a month after the assault and she was still afraid of her attacker. She also observed that she had fallen out with the defendant that night over nothing huge.

Investigating Sergeant Eddie Wilde reckoned that Ms Hanlon was terrified it could happen again.

Speaking in defence of the accused, solicitor Tim Cummins said his client had studiously avoided her ex pal since the incident.

She had no wish to cause the injured party – her best friend through their childhood – any further upset.

Ms O’Neill was a social science graduate who had intended to take a master’s qualification

Instead, she had taken up employment at a call centre earning around €350 per week after an episode described by Mr Cummings as completely out of character.

As a gesture of remorse she offered €2,000 from her own pocket and the money was immediately available in court.

The judge described what happened as a nasty assault.

He took a break from the hearing and when it was re-called, he was told that Gemma Hanlon had accepted an apology from her assailant and the sum of €2,000.

On this basis, the case was then struck out, leaving the defendant with no conviction whatever on her record.

It was a condition of this that Ms O’Neill will undertake an anger management course. And it was left open to the gardaí to bring the matter back to court it they have any concerns.