Courts / Dublin / Report

Mentally ill woman kicked pregnant victim in stomach in racist attack

Date
2019-07-05

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joyce Conlon, 35, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for an unprovoked assault on an eight‑week‑pregnant woman. Conlon, who suffers from paranoia and psychosis, kicked the victim in the stomach with her shoe, causing bleeding that led to a Caesarean delivery at 30 weeks. The judge described the attack as "reprehensible" and inferred a racial motive, noting the victim's Somali background and Conlon's remark about "black" something. Conlon pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to an attempted robbery at Boyle's Sports, for which she received a separate sentence of three and a half years with the final 12 months suspended, to run concurrently with the assault sentence. The court acknowledged Conlon's mental condition and drug use but accepted her remorse and potential for rehabilitation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mentally ill woman kicked pregnant victim in stomach in racist attack. Charges or matters: assault causing harm at Cork Street, Dublin on February 8, 2018; an attempted robbery at Boyle's Sports on Meath Street, Dublin on December 2, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

February 8, 2018 Incident
December 2, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
2019-07-05 Publication

Case subjects

Joyce Conlon

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm at Cork Street, Dublin on February 8, 2018; an attempted robbery at Boyle's Sports on Meath Street, Dublin on December 2, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Conlon was sentenced to three and a half years in prison with the final 12 months suspended for the assault charge, to run concurrently with an 18-month sentence for attempted robbery.