Woman ‘dug' nails and infected reveller's arm during Dublin street mugging, court told
A woman allegedly "dug" her fingernails into a reveller's arms, causing an infection, during a street mugging in Dublin.
Diane Travers, 32, of no fixed abode, was refused bail when she appeared at a weekend sitting of Dublin District Court.
Garda Shane McConkey said the accused was charged with a robbery on Sycamore Street, Dublin 2, on May 31 last.
He objected to bail and stated that at around 3.15 am, the injured party was on his way home after socialising in the city centre. He turned onto Sycamore Street, when he was allegedly pursued by a male and the accused. The male punched him in the back of the head, causing him to become disorientated.
The pair then wrestled him into a doorway before another male then became involved, and they threw him to the ground.
The complainant dropped his iPhone 15.
One of the male robbers picked it up as Ms Travers allegedly "dug her nails into his forearm and attempted to pull his watch off of his wrist."
The garda stated that this caused the man extreme pain.
"He attempted to fight back but was overwhelmed when the third male then returned and helped pin him on the ground."
It was alleged that the three suspects then rooted through his pockets.
The man shouted for help and the trio fled when several members of the public approached.
The court heard there was a bid to use his bank card, which had been in his phone case, in a shop at O'Connell Street. However, the transaction did not go through as he had already frozen his account.
It was claimed the man suffered bruising to both his elbows, scrapes to his right forearm, and deep nail marks on his wrist and left bicep.
He went to a doctor the following day and needed a tetanus shot due to the deep nail marks on his arms becoming infected.
Judge Conneely heard the man was put on antibiotics for several days. He also missed work due to his injuries and the psychological effects.
CCTV footage was obtained.
Defence counsel Kevin McCrave submitted that she could be released with conditions, however, the application was denied.
Legal aid was granted to Ms Travers who will appear again next week.
She has not yet indicated a plea with a decision awaited on whether she will be tried in the District Court or the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
9 hours ago
- The Journal
Philip Dwyer loses appeal against trespass conviction at direct provision centre
CAMPAIGNER PHILIP DWYER trespassed at a direct provision centre for International Protection (IP) applicants at Inch in Co Clare where residents were being besieged by protesters outside the property, a court has heard. At Ennis Circuit Court this evening, Judge Francis Comerford upheld the trespass conviction imposed on Dwyer, an anti-immigrant activist, at Magowna House on 18 May 2023. Described in court by his counsel Anne Doyle BL as a 'Citizen Journalist', Dwyer (56) of Tallaght Cross West, Tallaght, Dublin 24 was appealing the district court trespass conviction imposed in March and Judge Comerford also affirmed the district court fine of €500. Dwyer told the court that he was at Magowna House to ask questions in his role as a journalist. Judge Comerford said that Dwyer 'might be entitled to make enquiries and go to someone's door, but he went well beyond it here'. At the time, there were protests at Magowna House where 29 International Protection applicants were being accommodated and there were blockades on local roads which were attracting media attention. Judge Comerford said that a group of people here came to seek refuge 'and were brought by the State to a relatively isolated, rural location where they were alone and away from a lot of resources and facilities'. 'And in effect, they were besieged in the premises they were brought to,' the judge said. 'It was made absolutely clear to them that they weren't welcome and there were protesters outside the property and there were bales of hay blocking access to prevent others joining them.' He said that there were 30 or 40 protesters protesting against their presence. Judge Comerford said that the big difference between Dwyer and protesters outside was that he went inside the property, where the other protesters didn't. Advertisement Judge Comerford said that he accepted the evidence of the Manager of Magowna House at the time, Ahlam Salman who said that Dwyer's presence on the property made her feel 'afraid'. Video footage made by Dwyer was played to the court, where he can be heard saying that he had arrived at a 'people trafficking centre'. In the footage shown in court, Dwyer can be heard saying, 'these are all foreign people telling me what I can't do in my own country'. Dwyer can be seen addressing a Ukrainian man wearing a fluorescent jacket: 'Do you think Irish people are stupid? Do you think we are all idiots? I wouldn't blame you, to be honest with you.' He asks later: 'What is your problem? You are not in Ukraine, this is my country…What are you hiding? I am just asking questions on behalf of the people of Ireland. The people in this country are very concerned about this.' After seeing some men believed to be International Protection applicants staying at the centre, Mr Dwyer asks: 'Why are these people covering their faces….This is Ireland. This is my country.' Counsel for the State Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) said to Dwyer that his words 'had a menacing undertone' to the people to whom he spoke on the property. In response, Dwyer said: 'I wasn't menacing to anybody.' He said: 'I 100% stand over those comments. We all have to respect one another. I tried to be respectful when I went in there.' He said: 'I was treated very badly. I was treated with hostility… I felt quite intimidated as well. That is part of the job.' He went on to tell the court: 'I have thousands of viewers, sometimes hundreds of thousands.' Counsel for Dwyer, Anne Doyle BL, said that she was not instructed by her client not to enter any mitigation concerning penalty 'as my client stands by his actions', Doyle said that 'he maintains that he was working in the course of his duties and does not accept the verdict'.
RTÉ News
13 hours ago
- RTÉ News
US mother and son remanded in custody over €1m cannabis seizure
A US mother and son charged over a seizure of almost €1 million worth of cannabis at Dublin Airport on Sunday have been remanded in custody. Hellasha Tingman, 48, and her 30-year-old son Shawndell Gaston, of the Bronx, New York in the United States, were each charged with unlawful possession and importation of cannabis, and having it for sale or supply. They appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court facing bail objections. Garda Sinead Deevy gave evidence of the arrest of Ms Tingman at customs in Terminal 2 under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court heard the woman gave no reply when charged with possessing 26.2kg of cannabis in two suitcases, with an approximate value of €524,000. Questioned by defence barrister Paddy Flynn, instructed by solicitor Tracy Horan, the garda agreed the overall seizure involved 49kg of cannabis. She agreed with the barrister that the woman had an address in the Bronx and had been on an inbound flight from New York's John F Kennedy International Airport. Mr Flynn said his client earns $177 (€151) a week and pays $790 (€674) in rent. Judge Kelly held she was entitled to legal aid and noted Ms Tingman was making a bail application at this stage. She remanded her in custody to appear again. Garda Thomas Bourke said Mr Gaston made no reply when charged with the same category of offences in connection with the rest of the seizure. His solicitor, Paddy McGarry, said his client was not applying for bail at this stage. Judge Kelly allowed Mr Gatson legal aid.
The Journal
14 hours ago
- The Journal
Dublin pensioner admits blackmailing woman after finding sexual images on second-hand phone
A DUBLIN PENSIONER has admitted recovering pictures of a woman engaged in sexual acts from her old phone to 'blackmail' her years later. Anthony Nolan, 84, of Richmond Road, Fairview, was charged with harassment from 8 May 2021, until 10 May 2022, under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. He pleaded guilty when he appeared at Dublin District Court before Judge Michele Finan today. The court heard the woman, who was known to the accused, gifted the pensioner her old phone in 2009, which she had used for four years. Three years later, Nolan discovered some content on the phone, including personal messages and 'photos showing the injured party in sexual activities and he attempted to blackmail her in relation to that'. Advertisement Judge Finan noted that defence solicitor Andrew Molony said his client was attending psychiatric treatment and he needed time to obtain a report. The woman was not present for the hearing. Adjourning sentencing until September, Judge Finan requested that a victim impact statement be prepared for the next hearing. She also extended legal aid for a psychiatric report on Nolan. The accused was remanded on continuing bail and was not required to testify. It followed a preliminary hearing in April to consider whether the case should be sent up to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. Jurisdiction was accepted, keeping it in the District Court. The judge had heard that before the victim gave Nolan the phone, 'she wiped the phone clean of personal data.' The evidence against him also included an accusation that, having discovered the messages and images, he refused to return the phone. Judge Finan heard the complainant tried to 'block' him, but he continued to harass her by electronic means and with messages.
