Courts / Dublin / Report

Homeless woman punched man in 'rear end' in bizarre attack

Date
2021-03-16

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In November 2019, Sarah Dunne, a 29‑year‑old homeless woman, attacked a man outside a shop on North Portland Street, Dublin. She demanded a cigarette, threw her bike, and when the man declined, she punched him twice in the rear end. She then stabbed him with a suspected syringe, leaving a puncture mark. The victim, who was with his girlfriend, was taken to Mountjoy Garda Station and hospital, where doctors confirmed the syringe injury and prescribed treatments for hepatitis and HIV prevention. Dunne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. She was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, backdated to May 2020, after the court noted the victim's fear and the use of a sharp object. The case also involved her earlier convictions for trespass and theft. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the assault and the potential health risks to the victim.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Homeless woman punched man in 'rear end' in bizarre attack. Charges or matters: one count of assault causing harm to the man; one count of trespass and theft at Cabra Park on May 26, 2020 and will be sentenced on July 29. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 2019 Incident
May 2020 Incident
May 26, 2020 Incident
July 29 Incident
2021-03-16 Publication

Case subjects

Sarah Dunne

Defendant

Charges: one count of assault causing harm to the man; one count of trespass and theft at Cabra Park on May 26, 2020 and will be sentenced on July 29 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: In relation to that offence, she pleaded guilty to one count of trespass and theft at Cabra Park on May 26, 2020 and will be sentenced on July 29. She handed down a two-and-a-half year sentence and backdated it to May 2020 when Dunne went into custody.