A woman used her fingernails to launch an attack on her sister-in-law at a post office in Dublin, after previously punching, kicking and pulling the hair of a mother on a school run, a court has heard.
Claire Redmond, 25, of Forestwood Avenue, Santry, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm to two women: one at the Post Office on Ballymun Road on November 10th, 2022, and the other, her neighbour, on February 10th of the same year.
At Dublin District Court, Judge Treasa Kelly ruled out sparing Redmond a conviction and adjourned sentencing for a compensation proposal and a probation report to be prepared.
Court presenter Garda Sergeant Derek Spain detailed the evidence, telling the judge the first incident happened after a 35-year-old mother was going to collect a child from school. Redmond passed her on an electric scooter and "called her a tramp".
She repeatedly used the slur before launching the attacked. The woman fell to the ground where Redmond kicked her in the stomach and head.
The accused then grabbed the woman by her hair and punched her, resulting in cuts, bleeding and bruising.
The court was informed that they had got on well growing up, but at the time, Redmond had suffered a mental breakdown.
Judge Kelly noted how the incident left the victim, who has since passed away, in a distressed state and suffering from anxiety.
The second attack occured nine months later at the post office. Redmond's sister-in-law was waiting when she was tapped on the shoulder, and the accused told her she would be "waiting outside".
The court heard she crossed to the other side of the post office before saying, "F**k it, I'll do it here." She grabbed the woman's face with her fingernails, punched her, and kneed her in the face while holding her by the hair.
Bystanders yelled, “Get off her, get off her,” and the assault only stopped when two post office staff members intervened and dragged Redmond away.
Gardaí obtained CCTV evidence, but victim impact statements were not forthcoming, with Judge Kelly noting that the neighbour has since passed away, and the defence said Redmond had reconciled with her sister-in-law.
Redmond had no prior convictions but had been given the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act in court last year for threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour in public.
Her solicitor, Andrew Broderick, stated that Redmond was extremely remorseful. In pleading for leniency, he explained that when his client was younger, she had been put out of her family home and stayed in hostels.
She developed drug and alcohol problems, including cocaine and tablet abuse.
Around the time of the assaults, Redmond returned to Ballymun to try and get back into her family home, but "things escalated".
Mr Broderick submitted that the attacks were not premeditated, and Redmond could not control her emotions after a relapse.
The solicitor emphasised that she was ambitious and, now that she has recovered, wished to train to become an addiction counsellor, rebuild her life and mve to Australia.
He provided letters showing Redmond had completed a 20-week residential treatment course, which also addressed anger management. She has not touched alcohol or drugs in 17 months, the judge was told.
Redmond, who did not address the court, was told her case resumes in April and remanded on continuing bail.
