"I boxed the head off her" - Mother assaulted in front of child
O'Brien appeared in Waterford Courthouse.
A Waterford mother was beaten in front of her nine-year-old child by another woman.
Fiona O’Brien, of Highfield, Dungarvan, punched a woman in the face repeatedly. The attack happened in front of the victim’s own daughter.
O’Brien (40) attended Waterford Circuit Court before Judge Eugene O’Kelly, having pleaded guilty to a charge of assault contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
On August 31, 2023, Garda Alan Crowley responded to a call to a house in Dungarvan. When he arrived on the scene he met with a woman who was bleeding from her mouth and nose. Det. Crowley took her statement and photographed her injuries. The victim said that O'Brien came into her house unbidden and punched her multiple times. She suffered multiple blows while on the ground and a denture was displaced. The assault was witnessed by her child, who had to be interviewed by a specialist. The child's recall of the attack was 'very consistent' with the mother's account.
O’Brien was apprehended by Gardaí and cautioned with a charge of burglary. She replied: “What burglary? I punched her in the fucking nose and I’d do it again."
“I boxed the head off her. I don’t care.”
The Court heard that O’Brien had three previous convictions, including a charge for simple possession.
Defence counsel Kate Kelly BL, for O’Brien told the Court that her client was a mother to four children and was their sole carer. The Court heard the defendant had 'perceived a slight' by the victim. Ms Kelly explained that O'Brien was very remorseful and had written a letter of apology to the victim and had raised €500 in compensation.
O'Brien received a suspended sentence of 21 months, in recognition of her remorse, mental health and the potential negative consequences for her family if she was to serve a custodial sentence.
