MOMS’ FISTICUFFS OVER PLAYSCHOOL BULLYING

A CLAIM that a child was bullying another at playschool led to fisticuffs between the children’s mothers on a street in Listowel, as they laid into each other while passersby were going about their business at 1.10pm in the day.

Sarah Patwell, 53 Slí na Spéire, Listowel, and Breda Mulcahy, 8 Liosdara, Listowel, appeared before Judge James O’Connor at Listowel District Court on Thursday arising from the incident that occurred on the Ballygologue Road in Listowel on May 6 of last year.

They pleaded guilty to the charge of acting in a threatening and abusive manner. Ms Patwell pleaded guilty to the further charge of possessing a knife - after gardaí discovered a stanley blade in her child’s buggy. Her solicitor Pa Daly emphasised that the blade had not been produced in the course of the fight.

Solicitor for Ms Mulcahy, Robin Lee, told the Court that the pair had not sought each other out on the day, but had crossed paths by chance.

Ms Mulcahy meanwhile explained that the fight had been sparked by the bullying claims: “She (Ms Patwell) said that my daughter was bullying her daughter.”

Both children were aged 4 and in playschool, the Court heard.

Judge James O’Connor directed that he would strike out the charges on condition both women make a payment of €500 into the Court Poor Box by December 7 next.

He reserved a warning for Ms Mulcahy as she had a number of previous convictions:

“If you come again before the Court over anything you will go to jail, kids or no kids,” Judge O’Connor warned.

The case is adjourned until the December 7 sitting to allow the parties time to prepare the required contributions.