Louth woman's face scarred after prolonged attack in her home
A woman found by gardaí “saturated in blood” after a prolonged attack in her Dundalk home thought she was going to die, a sentence hearing has been told.
She was repeatedly kicked and punched by two men during a more than 90-minute ordeal and left scarred after being slashed on the face with a blade.
Appearing via video link from Mountjoy Prison was Michael Murden (32) one of the men involved.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary. The circuit court was asked to take into consideration other charges of false imprisonment and assault causing harm.
The hearing was informed that Mr Murden, O’Hanlon Park, Dundalk at the time, did not cut the woman. Those injuries were inflicted by his co-accused.
He has been on remand since September 23, 2024, the day following this incident.
Judge Dara Hayes adjourned sentencing to next month when the other man’s case will also be finalised.
Det Gda Charlie Barrett gave evidence that on September 22, 2024, a woman was awoken from her sleep by two men standing over her.
They asked where was the money and the rest of the people?
She said that she had no money before suffering a “sustained and vicious attack”.
The defendant repeatedly punched her in the head and kicked her to the face. She attempted to push past and both men started hitting her.
She was dragged to the kitchen, then back to the bedroom where Mr Murden’s co-accused smashed a lamp over her head. This man then cut her face three times with a Stanley blade.
The victim remembered Michael Murden saying: “Whoa, whoa, Leigh man, that’s too far.”
This person also ignited an aerosol pointing the flame in her direction which may have caused burns to her legs. She went into shock. Her memory was hazy.
She recalled Murden “dozing off” on the couch. He was awoken by the other man who said, “We’ve got nothing”.
The co-accused may have hit her with a fire extinguisher. She saw them put some of her belongings, including clothes and a mobile phone, into Londis bags.
Det Gda Barrett continued that the woman said she thought she was going to die.
She managed to get out, seeking refuge in a neighbour’s house.
Gardai found her “bleeding heavily and saturated in blood”. She required stitches to the top and back of her head, while part of her right cheek was glued together.
The woman was not in court to hear her Victim Impact Statement being read out.
In it, she said she was viciously attacked while sleeping and her life changed forever.
She was living in constant fear, depressed and anxious, and had to give up her independence.
The woman continued that she wasn’t sleeping nor eating properly and had to suffer the trauma of her injuries, among them a 4-inch scar on her face which she avoided looking at.
Investigators identified both assailants from CCTV footage including from a nearby takeaway they attended and where they placed a bottle of vodka on the counter.
The defendant was arrested the next day.
Det Gda Barrett told of 86 previous convictions, among them burglary, robbery, serious assault, criminal damage, arson, extortion and escaping from custody.
Paul Green SC said that his client, father of a 15-year-old daughter, apologised “for what its worth”.
Apparently both men were intoxicated. The defendant made an effort to get the other man to stop.
Mr Murden had an addiction to heroin, “benzoes”, cannabis and other drugs. He did well in custody having been incarcerated a lot.
He was remorseful and his plea of guilty was of benefit. He had made some effort to address his addiction.
Michael Murden also appeared for sentencing for another incident which occurred a fortnight earlier on September 8, 2024, at BlackWhite Technologies, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk.
He asked to see a mobile phone but when told that he couldn’t hold it, jumped over the counter and tried to open the till, Gda Nicole Reid said.
The shop assistant ran outside and locked in the defendant. At first he tried to kick open the door before using an e-scooter to smash the door and escape on his own e-scooter.
Gda Reid said she recognised Murden from CCTV. He was charged for this on the following September 23 at the garda station along with the other charges before the court.
He pleaded guilty to burglary, with a criminal damage charged to be taken into consideration.
Judge Hayes adjourned sentencing to May 8.