Offaly woman sentenced to six months in prison for assault

An Offaly woman was sentenced to six months imprisonment in Dóchas Centre during last week's Tullamore Court sitting.

Martina Mullen, 323 The Sycamores, Edenderry pleaded guilty to assaulting another woman at The Sycamores, Edenderry on September 29 last.

A picture of the injured party was handed in to the Judge to show her the injuries. The court was told there was blood on the injured party's face and hair after the assault and that the victim had shown mobile phone video footage of the incident to the Gardaí. The court was told that Ms Mullen and the injured party were neighbours.

Sergeant James O'Sullivan said Ms Mullen had two previous convictions for Section 2 assault. The defending solicitor, Donal Farrelly said she had had an issue with alcohol some years ago and was taking medication for the condition. However, when the assault happened she was off her medication. Mr Farrelly said Ms Mullen went through a traumatic period in her life a few years ago, during which she endured a violent relationship. He added that his client hasn't consumed alcohol since 2016.

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A victim impact statement was handed in to the Judge. The Judge read it out in court. The statement said she is very anxious since the assault and no longer walks on her own. She said the experience had been terrible and it was difficult to describe how bad she has been feeling since it happened. “I will never forget the terrible words which my attacker said to me as she assaulted me.”

Judge Catherine Staines said the matter was very serious. She sentenced Ms Mullen to six months imprisonment in Dóchas, Dublin and ordered that €1,000 be paid from the Court Poor Box to the victim “as some small compensation for what you have had to suffer.”