Courts / Dublin / Report

Woman who attacked journalist on O'Connell Street seeking re-trial

Summary

Ruth Barry, 36, of Moy Elta Road, Dublin 3, was convicted in 2012 of cutting journalist Jennifer Bray's face, using a blade, robbery, and assaulting two of Bray's companions on O'Connell Street on 25 June 2010. Barry was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with 18 months suspended. She and boyfriend Jonathon O'Brien followed Bray, her companion Sarah Furlong, and Neil Callanan to a taxi; Barry punched Bray, head‑butted Furlong, and bit Callanan. Bray testified she felt a cold object and heard a click before slumping. Barry's counsel argued that a witness, Jakub Gajda, who allegedly saw O'Brien take something from behind his back, was unavailable and that the trial judge had accepted his statement as evidence. The Court of Appeal has been asked to grant a retrial, with the appeal pending a decision date.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman who attacked journalist on O'Connell Street seeking re-trial. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• June 25 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 26, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2015-01-16 Publication

Why: The inference being that because no-one else had interacted with Ms Furlong when she received her cutting injuries, "it was Barry with the blade" in both instances. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Theft

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Read the original CNI report