Courts / Dublin / Report
Father recorded daughters carrying out 'vicious' beating in video posted to Youtube
Summary
Michael Lawrence, 55, filmed his daughter Jessica Maughan, 28, viciously beating his mother‑in‑law Mary Maughan, 65, as she left a doctor's appointment, and also recorded his other daughter Marie Stokes, 31, attacking Mary's daughter Rosie while Rosie waited in her car. The video was shared on social media and viewed 3,500 times. The court heard that the victims, though physically recovered, suffered psychological harm from the humiliation. Lawrence and the two daughters pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced each to a two‑year suspended sentence, ordered them to pay €1,000 to the Garda, and remanded Stokes and Lawrence in custody pending sentence while allowing Jessica Maughan to remain on bail. The judge described the assaults as disgraceful and vicious, noting the humiliation was aggravated by the footage's online presence. The court did not impose any custodial term on the father or the daughters.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Father recorded daughters carrying out 'vicious' beating in video posted to Youtube. Charges or matters: assault causing harm on September 30, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 30, 2021 Incident
- 2022-10-10 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm on September 30, 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) A man who recorded his daughters "viciously" beating two women and could be heard encouraging them during the video, which was shared on social media, has been given a suspended sentence. He said today that he had decided not to imprison the father and two daughters before he imposed a two-year suspended sentence on each of them. "If this is repeated again, or anything like it, it would be brought back to court and you will go to jail – these two ladies didn't deserve what you did," Judge Nolan said addressing Lawrence, Maughan and Stokes directly.; Having heard evidence last Wednesday, Judge Nolan adjourned to this morning for sentence.
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm on September 30, 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Nolan had remanded Marie Stokes and Michael Lawrence in custody pending sentence but allowed Jessica Maughan to remain on bail. He said today that he had decided not to imprison the father and two daughters before he imposed a two-year suspended sentence on each of them. "If this is repeated again, or anything like it, it would be brought back to court and you will go to jail – these two ladies didn't deserve what you did," Judge Nolan said addressing Lawrence, Maughan and Stokes directly.; Having heard evidence last Wednesday, Judge Nolan adjourned to this morning for sentence.
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm on September 30, 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Ms O'Callaghan said "society will look at the video and say my client deserves a custodial sentence" but she asked the court to accept that Lawrence got involved in a misguided way to defend his daughter. He said today that he had decided not to imprison the father and two daughters before he imposed a two-year suspended sentence on each of them. "If this is repeated again, or anything like it, it would be brought back to court and you will go to jail – these two ladies didn't deserve what you did," Judge Nolan said addressing Lawrence, Maughan and Stokes directly.; Having heard evidence last Wednesday, Judge Nolan adjourned to this morning for sentence.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Blanchardstown
- Blanchardstown Hospital
- Temple Street
Topics
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