A mother of nine, who when intoxicated and for no apparent reason, whacked an elderly man on the top of the head with a stiletto, was sentenced to jail at this week’s sitting of Castlebar District Court.
On Valentine’s Day at 12.15am Garda John Fleming observed Ellen McDonagh, 8 Hollow Grove, Castlebar, use her shoe to bang on the window of a licensed premises on Rush Street, Castlebar. Garda Fleming observed a man emerge from the pub to have a cigarette and McDonagh was observed to assault the man, who she did not know, on the top of his head while he had his back turned to her. Both the injured party and defendant fell to the ground and the elderly man was brought to Mayo General Hospital with injuries.
Solicitor for McDonagh, Lynda Lenehan, described the incident as “bizarre” and her client has no explanation for her actions on the night. McDonagh has one previous conviction for disorderly conduct.
Judge Mary Devins said it was an “outrageous” and “horrendous” incident and convicted and fined McDonagh €500, sentenced her to three months in prison, with the final month of the sentence suspended for 12 months on the conditions that she is of good behaviour, keeps the peace, records no convictions, and that the sum of €1,000 be made available to the injured party on of before June 1.
Recognisances were fixed.
