Woman who 'snapped' and attacked elderly neighbour in 'callous' attack in the Midlands jailed

A mother of two who "snapped" and pushed her 69 year-old neighbour halfway down a flight of stairs after she knocked on her door complaining about loud music has been jailed for three and a half years.

Denise Curran (39) of 5 Hillside, Finea, Mullingar, Co Westmeath pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to assault causing harm at Rath Beg apartments, Abbeylara, Granard, Co Longford on November 12, 2023 at 7.40pm.

Judge Kenneth Connolly was highly critical that the defendant who received a 15-month prison sentence in May last year for a separate offence only served 21 days and was at large when she committed the 'callous' attack.

In her evidence, Gda Sabrina Scally said that the victim Marian Lynch heard noise on the night in question and she went downstairs to find out where it was coming from.

Leading Garda Sabrina Scally's evidence, State prosecutor Shane Geraghty BL narrated CCTV footage obtained from the complainant's property.

He said the footage showed Ms Lynch walking down the stairs to Ms Curran's apartment and he described how she she was out of view for a short period while she spoke to the defendant.

Mr Geraghty stated the footage then shows Ms Lynch walking up the stairs and moments later Ms Curran can be seen coming behind her, putting her hand over her shoulder and pushing her aggressively down the stairs.

Mr Geraghty then addressed Gda Scally and asked a rhetorical question, which she quickly accepted and agreed with.
"Ms Curran effectively pushes Ms Lynch down the stairs, isn't that correct," he stated.

Gda Scally explained Ms Lynch fell about nine steps down the stairs and sustained a deep cut to the top of her head which required five stitches.

Gda Scally stated an ambulance was called and Ms Lynch's head was bandaged before she was brought to Mullingar General Hospital.

Several photographs documenting the injuries were handed into Judge Kenneth Connolly.

The court heard a medical report also documented how the victim also suffered a laceration to the back of her head that later required five stitches, posterior head trauma and bruising on the right of her buttocks and on her right arm and wrist.

Gda Scally said Ms Lynch lost a lot of blood which was found at the bottom of the stairs and in her apartment.

The court heard Gardaí first received a complaint from the defendant Ms Curran in relation to the incident and Gda Scally attended the scene with Sgt Kieran Flynn and they spoke to her.

"She said that Marian Lynch had banged on her door with a knife in her hand shouting at her abusively," she said. "The hall was in darkness so I had to use my torch but I could see that there was blood all over the place, blood all over the hall and leading up to Marian Lynch's apartment."

Gda Scally stated she went up to Ms Lynch's apartment and they had to get the armed Regional Support Unit (RSU) to put in the door because she was unable to respond to them.

"When we went in, her bedroom was covered in blood and she had a very deep cut to her head ," she added.

Gda Scally said they then viewed the CCTV footage and it was clear to see that Curran was the one responsible for inflicting the injuries.

The court heard officers soon realised the defendant was lying and Ms Lynch had made several previous complaints in relation to Ms Curran and loud music to Longford Garda Station.

The court heard Ms Lynch employed a cleaner to remove blood stains from the stairs at a cost of €110 and she paid a dog walker €700 over a 10 week period.

Mr Geraghty read Ms Lynch's victim impact statement to the court and he stated after the attack she complained of pains all over her body and described the psychological trauma.

"Marian stated the fear she felt going past Denise Curran's door, which was at the bottom of her stairs, knowing that she was there," he said. "Marian stated that her two female friends, who would have visited her, would not go past Denise Curran's door out of fear therefore wouldn't go to see Marian and she felt isolated in her apartment."

Mr Geraghty stated the victim also described how her life had changed as a result of the vicious assault.

"Marian stated she would stay in her apartment more than before the assault and would not socialise with people as much now," the report read.

Ms Lynch also stated her mobility since the assault is much slower.

Gda Scally said Curran was questioned and she initially protested her innocence, however, she began to accept some responsibility after being informed of the CCTV footage.

Officers asked her to describe her actions and she said she did not even remember it and she added she was "concerned" for Ms Lynch or she would not have phoned the Gardaí.

Curran stated during the interview she had pulled on Ms Lynch's right arm but had not pushed her down the stairs intentionally.

Asked by Gardaí if she was out of control she admitted she was angry, reckless and she snapped.

"I don't know why I did it. I had drink on me and it was stupid," she told officers. "If she did not come to my door it would not have happened."

Curran has 69 previous convictions, including six assault-related convictions, several hit and run driving convictions and a dangerous driving conviction.

Judge Kenneth Connolly noted the defendant was handed a 15-month prison sentence and sent to Mountjoy female prison on May 25, 2023 in relation to the reactivation of a dangerous driving causing serious harm sentence.

He questioned how she was at large as he outlined even with remission the earliest she should have been freed was May of this year.

Judge Connolly appeared shocked to hear Curran only spent 21 days of her 15-months in prison and she was released on temporary release without any obligation to return.

"21 days....with this record?" he added.

Defence barrister Raymond Groarke BL, said his client is living with her parents in Finea and some siblings and she is not intending on moving back to the apartment in Rath Beg, which should give some comfort to Ms Lynch.

The court heard Ms Lynch is now aged 70 and she has recovered relatively well.

Mr Groarke stated his client had a remarkably difficult upbringing and a probation report stated she has battled depression and addiction difficulties.

"The conclusion is the offending behaviour is strongly associated with alcohol abuse and her risk of reoffending is similarly linked," he said. "If she wants to turn over a new leaf she needs to address that."

Mr Groarke accepted the incident was very shocking, but he stated his client has now been working for two months in a convenience store, she cooperated with Gardaí and had written a letter of apology to the victim.

"The footage shows Ms Curran at her very worst and is not an accurate representation of the sort of person that she is or can be," the barrister, who appealed for leniency, added.

Judge Connolly said he had not been long on the bench but the CCTV footage "depicts one of the most callous acts" he had seen to date.

"Whatever circumstances your client found herself in at that time accepting that she was intoxicated and she snapped and accepting she found Ms Lynch an annoying neighbour perhaps it did not deserve this poor 70 year old woman being hurled down the stairs," he added.

He sentenced Curran to four and half years in prison, with the final twelve months suspended.