Women accused of violent feud attack inside department store in the Midlands have charges struck out

Two women accused of carrying out a feud related attack on another woman inside a department store in Longford last year have walked free from court after delays in obtaining directions from the DPP.

Cindy Duignan (37) of 31 Ardnacassa Avenue, Longford and Teresa Dinnegan (35) of 18 Grian Ard, Longford came before a sitting of Longford District Court earlier today in connection to an alleged violent brawl Penneys, Longford Centre, Longford on March 16 this year.

Both women were arrested and subsequently charged after an incident between the two women and their alleged victim in front of customers and staff.

The pair came before presiding Judge Bernadette Owens to hear details of how the case, which had already been marked as 'peremptory against the State' could not proceed as directions from the State's prosecution office were still outstanding.

Both women had been subject to stringent bail conditions since the alleged incident in March, including curfews, signing on orders and to refrain from uploading any material relating to the case to social media.

Ms Dinnegan had also come in for controversy in June after a court agreed to relax her bail terms to allow her to fly to Turkey to undergo cosmetic dental surgery while on free legal aid.

Sgt Mark Mahon, for the State, said he had "no reason" to tender to the court as to why directions from the DPP had yet to be made available.

On that basis, defence solicitor Diarmuid Quinn said he would be seeking for the charges against both his clients to be struck out, a request which was consequently approved by Judge Owens.