A woman who glassed a bouncer in a Dundalk pub after drinking all day during her sister’s going away party has appeared before the circuit court for sentencing.
Aideen Matthews (31), Haywood Way, Kilkeel, Co Down, pleaded guilty to assaulting a male causing him harm at Russell’s, Park Street, Dundalk, on Halloween night 2022.
A second charge of producing a glass while committing assault was taken into consideration.
Evidence was given that the single mother of four, who has no previous convictions, had been asked to leave the premises because she was abusive to other customers but instead of going she swung a glass she had in her hand at the security guard, catching him on the head.
The district court had refused jurisdiction in the case, and Judge Dara Hayes said he would ‘hold fire’ on sentence to ‘consider all options’.
Gda James Smith testified that Ms Matthews was ‘highly intoxicated’. She had been out from lunchtime that day.
In Russell’s she was being abusive to other people. The security guard came over and asked her to leave. She verbally abused him.
The woman had a glass in her hand. She swung it and people had to duck. She swung the glass at the victim, breaking it across the left side of his head.
The man sustained an injury to the tip of his ear lobe and an inch behind it.
Gardaí were called. Gda Smith said that he arrested Aideen Matthews at 12.45am and brought her to the station. She was unfit for questioning at the time.
Cross-examined by barrister Stephen Faulkner the witness said it was a going away do for Ms Matthews’ sister who was bound for Australia two days later.
He accepted that she didn’t intend to go out to assault anyone.
Judge Hayes interjected to comment, ‘Swinging a glass, you’re on very thin ground’.
Gda Smith continued that the defendant was compliant. She didn’t come forward with information. She appeared upset. There had been no trouble since.
The injured man was not present for the hearing. His Victim Impact Statement was read out by prosecuting counsel Miska Hanahoe.
He said that his life had changed because of what happened. His social life was non-existent. He had flashbacks, struggled to sleep, and suffered with panic attacks and anxiety. He was in daily pain and had lost earnings.
Mr Faulkner submitted that there was no excuse for swinging a glass in a reckless manner. The defendant was aware it was not acceptable.
She had drunk way above anything she consumed previously. A man had been working and trying to protect other people on the premises.
Ms Matthews worked in a café/bakery in Kilkeel and wanted time to gather restitution.
References were handed in from her mother and a sister.
Judge Hayes said that he would allow the defendant time to bring to court ‘whatever she feels suitable’. The injured party could be canvassed for his view.
He remarked the victim had been doing his job keeping the bar safe for everyone in it.
The judge wanted an enquiry to be made with the PSNI whether Ms Matthews had come to adverse attention in Northern Ireland.
Judge Hayes concluded that he would hold fire until April 10 next and was considering all options.
He remanded Aideen Matthews on continuing bail.
Source – Sunday World
