Courts / Dublin / Report
HSE worker told gardai that murderer broke her arm by stamping on it on stairwell
Summary
During the trial of Deirdre Arnold, a drugs‑addiction counsellor for the HSE, the jury heard that Arnold claimed a man she alleged had driven away from a murder scene, Brian McHugh, broke her arm by holding it on the bottom step of a stairwell and stamping on it. Arnold said McHugh dragged her down the stairs, placed her arm on the step, stamped on it, then dragged her back up and punched her ribs before fleeing. She also alleged that McHugh punched her ribs. Arnold's statements were recorded by Garda Diane Byrne, who took a complaint from Arnold. The prosecution presented text messages sent from a number identified as "Deirdre" to McHugh's phone, containing threats and references to the murder of Lisa Thompson. Arnold pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the apprehension of McHugh and perverting the course of public justice. The case is before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath with a jury of eleven.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: HSE worker told gardai that murderer broke her arm by stamping on it on stairwell. Charges or matters: impede the apprehension or prosecution of Brian McHugh; pervert the course of public justice. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- June 18 Other
- December 11, 2020 Other
- Monday May 9 Other
- Tuesday May 10 Other
- May 11 Other
- June 23 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 19 Other
- May 9 2022 Incident
- May 10 2022 Incident
- 2025-04-01 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: impede the apprehension or prosecution of Brian McHugh; pervert the course of public justice (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime
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