Courts / Dublin / Report

Transgender attacker will find prison 'particularly difficult', lawyers submit

Date
2021-02-19

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, defence barrister Cathleen Noctor SC argued that Shauna Kavanagh, a transgender woman formerly known as Sean Kavanagh, is a vulnerable person who will find prison particularly difficult. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and two counts of assault on James Street, Dublin, on 9 December 2017. She assaulted Thomas Coogan, a family friend, by punching him when he tried to break up a fight outside the Malt House Bar. Coogan suffered a fractured skull and brain bleeding, later died of cancer. Kavanagh had been living in London as a woman before returning to Dublin, where she was suppressing her gender. A psychological report suggested her anger that night stemmed from frustration over her life and suppressed gender. No victim impact statements were presented. The judge adjourned the case to set a sentence date on Monday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Transgender attacker will find prison 'particularly difficult', lawyers submit. Charges or matters: one count of assault causing harm and two counts of assault on James Street, Dublin on December 9, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 9, 2017 Incident
2021-02-19 Publication

Case subjects

Unnamed woman

Defendant

Charges: one count of assault causing harm and two counts of assault on James Street, Dublin on December 9, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Ms Noctor cited international research which has found transgender women in particular are a vulnerable group in prison. "This would make it particularly difficult for her to serve a prison sentence," Ms Noctor said.; Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the matter to Monday when she will set a sentence date.