Gardai in County Clare preparing file for DPP

GARDAI investigating an alleged assault in Ennis, County Clare on 29-year-old Wexford woman Sharon Bennett who died last week from her injuries, have said they are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Ms. Bennett, originally from Blackstone, Duncormick and a mother of two young daughters, was seriously injured after allegedly being assaulted in the Market area of Ennis on the evening of January 28, by 34-year-old Patrick Ballard.

The accused was charged with assault causing harm.

Ms. Bennett who is originally from Duncormick and had been living in County Clare for the past nine years, was taken to Limerick University Hospital where she never regained consciousness and died last Wednesday, 13 days following the alleged assault.

Superintendent Brendan McDonagh who is leading the investigation, said gardai in Ennis are preparing a file for the DPP, based on the results of a post-mortem examination and further enquiries from eye witnesses on the evening of the incident. The file is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

The accused man is due to appear again at Ennis District Court on March 3.

The Mayor of Clare, Cllr Mary Howard said it was ‘absolutely heartbreaking’ to hear that two children had been left without their mother.

‘My thoughts and prayers are with her family and her friends who are absolutely heartbroken at this time and I say that on behalf of the people of Clare’, she said.