Woman who attacked two others is told to pay €7,000

A YOUNG Sligo woman who carried out two vicious unprovoked attacks on two other innocent young women, has been told to come up with a total of €7,000 or face six months in jail at Sligo District Court.

Holly Mitchell, 21, from St John’s Terrace pleaded guilty to assaulting Jacqueline Kelly causing her harm at Sin Till Late nightclub on January 31 2019.

She also pleaded guilty to assaulting Megan Lenehan in the Belfry Bar in Sligo town on June 16, 2019.

Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry said the defendant was in court with her mother and some testimonials. Sergeant Derek Butler told the court Jacqueline Kelly had reported to gardai on February 1 that she had been assaulted at a night club the previous night.

The defendant pulled Ms Kelly’s hair, pulling her to the ground and assaulted her causing a fracture to her right arm and bruising on her body on the dance floor.

Two bouncers separated the parties. It was an unprovoked assault. Mitchell was arrested in October 2019 and was charged with assault causing harm, the court heard.

In the second incident on June 15, Megan Lenehan, the second victim, was at a 21st birthday party in the Belfry. Mitchell pulled Ms Lenehan’s hair, and the latter got down on her hunkers to try to escape and there were others pulling her hair.

Donegal native Jacqueline Kelly told the court her right arm was fractured and she was working part time and was also a student in the IT.

She was not able to go out for two months and stayed in her flat.

The witness was not able to work and, she said, “my mental health took a big hit”.

Ms Kelly said she did not know the defendant and had no idea at all why the defendant assaulted her.

Her arm had recovered, but it was still painful in cold weather.

The psychological scars were worse. It took her 12 days to leave her flat and she was terrified to leave the house and being in crowds.

“I have an awful fear of being attacked,” she said.

When asked if she would accept compensation from Mitchell, she agreed.

Megan Lenehan told the court she was at a 21st birthday part in The Belfry and she could feel tension with Mitchell who was known to her through Facebook.

The witness went outside, and the defendant asked her what her problem was.

She said: “I said I had no problem. She grabbed my hair and I got down on my hunkers to protect myself.

“It affected me mentally and I did not go to my graduation and when I saw her in town, I had an anxiety attack.” The witness said she had got an letter of apology from the defendant.

“At the end of the day, it still happened, she did it and that’s it.”

Holly Mitchell said she was very sorry for what happened to the girls. When asked why did she did it, she replied that she was on anti-depressant medication and she should not have been drinking.

On both occasions alcohol was involved but this was no excuse.

She said: “It is not how I am, I don’t drink any more. I have a lot of friends and did not things to go so far. “I am very sorry and I did assault the girls. “I have never been in court before and I will never be here again.” Sergeant Derek Butler asked Mitchell why she carried out an unprovoked attack and broke the arm of Jacqueline Kelly.

The sergeant said that four and a half months later “the same thing happened”.

The defendant said there was a bit of tension and “I was sticking up for friends”. “She did not shake my hand, but that is no excuse, and I am sorry.” Judge Kevin Kilrane asked Mitchell: “Why did you do it again in June?” The latter said she began drinking with her friends because she thought it was cool, but it was not.

Judge Kilrane said that “at the moment it is big compensation or jail”. Mr MacSharry said they were not a family of means.

The defendant’s mother told the court the defendant had been to adult mental health services and had ADHD but knew right from wrong and went out and wrongly drank with medication. She had been getting help and counselling.

Mr MacSharry said there was only €800 in court and they would have to get a loan.

Judge Kilrane said: “She should go to jail, and she will go to jail unless there is compensation.

“She has mental health issues, but she drank with medication and made a shocking, unprovoked attack on Ms Kelly.”

Mitchell had broken her victim’s arm and caused her to miss college. This was very serious, and Ms Kelly’s own mental health suffered greatly as a result of this vicious attack fuelled by alcohol and medication.

The judge ordered Mitchell to pay Ms Kelly €5,000 and Ms Lenehan €2,000.

He said that the total payment of €7,000 would keep the defendant from a six-month jail sentence. Mr MacSharry said the defendant’s mother was a single mother and would have to borrow from the Credit Union. Judge Kilrane said he appreciated the difficulties. He said: “We have two victims and they have come to court looking for justice. I can’t let those victims down.

“Ms Kelly is shaking in court, and these are two ladies who were the victims of a vicious attack caused by alcohol and medication.”

The judge said the defendant remained a serious threat to people. “She has a vicious and uncontrolled temperament when she gets alcohol. If she takes alcohol again, the same thing is likely to happen again. I have to make sure that it does not happen again.”

Adjourning the case until May 20, the judge told the two victims that if there were any contact from this lady or her friends, they were to tell gardaí and the matter would be re-entered before the court.