Dublin woman tore out supermarket worker's hair over Facebook post
A mother of one pulled a clump of hair out of a woman's head over a Facebook post in a row described by her defence as a 'cautionary tale on the dangers of social media'.
Robyn Barnwell (25) went to the woman's workplace in a Dublin supermarket and attacked her after the victim posted an 'inflammatory' message that she believed put a member of her family in danger.
Adjourning the case, Judge Treasa Kelly said she would consider applying the Probation Act if Barnwell paid €1,500 in compensation.
The judge acknowledged that the accused had got 'carried away in the heat of the moment', but said that it was 'totally unacceptable behaviour in a civilised society'.
Barnwell, a commercial painter and 'talented footballer', of Raheen Park, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.
Dublin District Court heard the accused went to Aldi, Kylemore Road on August 2 last year, punched the woman in the face several times and pulled a clump of hair from her head.
Barnwell had no previous convictions.
The court heard the victim had posted information on Facebook about a member of Barnwell's family who was married to a man who had been sentenced for a serious crime.
The accused felt this was 'opportunistic' as it was none of the woman's business and it put her relative, who was 'blameless', in danger.
'She appears to have put this post up because she doesn't like the Barnwell family,' defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens said.
Robyn Barnwell pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Photo: Paddy Cummins
The accused knew where the woman was working and went to 'have a discussion with her' but emotions were running high, and there was a verbal altercation that turned physical.
'She accepts she should never have gone to [the victim's] place of business, it was the wrong behaviour for the right reason, she deeply regrets it,' Ms Stephens said.
There was an 'element of provocation' due to the inflammatory language used on the Facebook post and it was a 'cautionary tale of the dangers of social media', Ms Stephens said.
There was 'bad blood' behind the case and the incident was an 'isolated incident provoked by emotional distress'.
Robyn Barnwell pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. Photo: Paddy Cummins
News in 90 Seconds - July 23rd
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Shocking moment Ryanair passenger sobs & hits door after being stopped from boarding as her ‘hand luggage was too big'
THIS is the shocking moment a female Ryanair passenger is left sobbing on her knees after being banned from boarding her flight. The tearful woman was left hitting a door in an emotional outburst as airport staff reportedly told her that her Advertisement 6 A female Ryanair passenger was filmed crying and begging on her knees to be allowed to board a plane after staff banned her over her luggage Credit: Facebook/Nikolay Stefanov 6 She was left screaming, sobbing and venting her frustration over Ryanair's strict baggage policy Credit: Facebook/Nikolay Stefanov 6 Footage shows her trying to force her bag into the luggage rack by slamming it in after being told she had to pay extra Credit: Facebook/Nikolay Stefanov 6 Onlookers were also shocked by how the staff treated her with next to no compassion Credit: Facebook/Nikolay Stefanov Chaos unfolded at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria when the woman was left screaming, sobbing and venting her frustration over Ryanair's strict baggage policy. A packed flight was due to board a bus to their plane when the female passenger was stopped in the queue. Nikolay Stefanov, a witness to the shocking ordeal, said the woman was told she had to pay for extra baggage because her luggage didn't fit in the holdall. The woman refused to pay as she explained her bag could in fact fit. Advertisement read more in airport fury Footage shows her trying to force her bag into the luggage rack by slamming it in. The bag does eventually fit but the staff still refuse to let her board. She then breaks down in tears as she pleads with a member of the border police and takes a video of the bag which is now wedged inside the rack. Dozens of the passengers were seen watching on from behind a glass door which was all that separated them from the weeping woman. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Exclusive Exclusive Exclusive Determined to board, she then starts to bang on the door and ask for help as Nikolay films the sad ordeal. More staff quickly surround the woman as her begging grows louder. Moment Brit woman is dragged off Ryanair flight & thrown to floor after 'assaulting passengers and making bomb threat' At one point she even drops to her knees before placing her hand on the door as tears roll down her face. Nikolay said the whole situation "escalated quickly". Advertisement He added: "She was pleading with us not to leave, but we were threatened that the entire flight would be cancelled if we didn't get on the bus, so passengers became frightened and left." Nikolay said many onlookers were also shocked by how the staff treated her with next to no compassion. It has also been claimed that another passenger stood behind the woman in line was removed from the flight. A Ryanair staff member allegedly said that they couldn't let him on because "reopening the gate risked the woman trying to get on the bus". Advertisement The viral footage soon caught the eye of Bulgaria's parliament. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov has reportedly ordered an inspection of the airport's security cameras. Mr Karadjov is even said to have described the behaviour of employees in the video as "outrageous", He has assured people that the main ground operator will be found and given the "highest fine" and a verbal warning. Advertisement In response, Goldair Handling Bulgaria insisted their employees acted "professionally and without any physical contact with the passenger". The handling company released a statement to "Goldair Handling Bulgaria OOD is solely obliged to monitor compliance with these rules by the airlines. "This also applies to hand luggage, as Goldair Handling Bulgaria OOD is obliged to monitor the dimensions of this baggage and collect excess baggage fees. Advertisement "[Staff] acted professionally and without any physical contact with the passenger." It comes as Ryanair's CEO is considering increasing bonuses paid to staff for The budget airline currently pays staff approximately €1.50 (£1.30) for stopping passengers with Currently, staff bonuses for doing this are capped at €80 (£70) a month. Advertisement Passengers who are unlucky enough to get caught out by the airline's staff are charged a fee of up to €75 (£65) for bringing luggage that is larger than they paid for while booking their journey. 6 The passenger was left hitting the door where the other passengers were waiting to board Credit: Facebook/Nikolay Stefanov 6 The woman even took a photo showing her bag could fit Credit: Facebook/Nikolay Stefanov
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Boy, seven, mauled by 13ft shark & has part of leg torn off by beast after jumping into water while playing with friends
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy has been attacked by a 13ft shark who ripped off part of the child's leg. The boy was playing with his friends in shark infested waters when the beast grabbed hold of his body. Advertisement 2 A seven-year-old boy has been attacked by a 13ft shark who ripped off part of the child's leg Credit: Getty Horrified witnesses at Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva recalled seeing the boy jump from a fisherman's dock moments before being attacked. The child was snagged on his right forearm, left hand and had one of his calves ripped off. He was quickly treated at the scene before being rushed to a local hospital. Doctors decided his injuries were so severe that he was evacuated to the larger Taaone Hospital shortly after arriving. Advertisement Another shark attack victim was left with similar wounds after her calf was torn off in a Fourth of July mauling. Sullivent recalls feeling the beast approach as she tried to kick it to get ot to go away. But the shark suddenly clasped onto her leg and bit off a majority of her left calf. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun It comes as a luxury Maldives getaway turned into a nightmare when a dentist was mauled by a shark in a terrifying attack. Ekaterina Alexandrova, 30, from Moscow, shared footage of the moment she was attacked while snorkelling with a friend. 2 Tabatha Sullivent was one of four people injured in a shark attack on South Padre Island off the southern coast of Texas Credit: Facebook / DHR Health
Sunday World
9 hours ago
- Sunday World
Hooligan ‘supporters' of Derry and Bohs had pre-arranged ‘fight' to coincide with game
The Sunday World understands the disturbances, which included a firework being thrown onto Derry's pitch, were planned in advance. Violent scenes unfolded outside the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium before and after the League of Ireland fixture against Dublin side Bohemians Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Rival hooligan gangs clashed in an organised fight in Derry on Friday night. Two people were injured after rival fans clashed with sticks, bats and iron bars outside the Brandywell as Derry City took on fellow League of Ireland side Bohemians. The Sunday World understands the disturbances, which included a firework being thrown onto Derry's 5G pitch, were planned in advance. A group of self-styled 'Ultras' attached to Derry were denied entry to the ground on Friday but had an arranged 'rumble' with a similar mob attached to the Bohs. It is also understood the majority of those involved on the Derry side were aged between eight and 18, say witnesses who attended the match. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th Sources also claim the rioters had been guarding the Meenan Square bonfire which has drawn criticism for bearing sectarian and anti-Israel images. 'The riot was arranged,' a source told the Sunday World. 'These idiots are just spoiling for a fight but they have to take on, so when the Bohs come to town there's an opportunity for a dust-up.' He said the Ultras are routinely refused access to the Brandywell. 'There's never any trouble at the Brandywell, these people aren't football fans,' one witness said. Social media posts linking to the trouble to dissident groups have been discounted, but a war of words has broken out between Bohs fans and those from Derry. Violent scenes unfolded outside the Ryan McBride Brandywell. Bohs Ultras have taunted their counterparts, claiming they were beaten on their own patch. A statement posted online by the Derry IRSP claimed a mob of '100 drugged-up Bohs fans'' set about invading the Bogside armed with hatchets and knives. 'We commend the resilience of the Bogside, for 50 years they have fought off invasion from the Crown forces so it was obvious a mob of jumped-up junkies wouldn't have had a chance.' Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street on Friday. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan was at the game and said he was left frightened by what he had witnessed. And Sinn Féin MLA Padraig Delargy said 'so-called football supporters from Dublin' attacked local people. The PSNI said disorder was focused in the Lecky Road and Lone Moor Road areas. Videos circulating online show people, some of them with their faces covered, fighting in the street. 'Shortly after 7pm on Friday evening, police were made aware of two large groups of rival football supporters in the area attacking each other near the Lecky Road flyover with sticks, bats and iron bars and causing damage to buildings and cars parked in the area. 'A teenage boy and a man aged in his 20s sustained injuries as a result of this incident and were taken to hospital for treatment. 'Further disorder then occurred in the vicinity of the Brandywell stadium during and after a football match which was taking place. 'There were people gathered with sticks, golf clubs and fireworks. 'They were roaming the perimeter prior to the match ending, and they were masked-up as well,' he said. 'So while I have pointed the finger, accurately I believe, at the people who came on the bus for starting the bother, the stuff afterwards was retaliatory.' The match was also briefly suspended after a flare was thrown from outside the ground onto the pitch. Mr Delargy, an MLA for Foyle, also condemned the trouble. He said many people in the area had felt frightened. 'The sight of masked youths armed with an array of weapons and fighting in the streets before turning on the PSNI was terrifying for local residents, including children, who witnessed this appalling violence,' he said. 'In what seems to have been a pre-arranged attack connected to a football match at the Brandywell, the violence erupted when so-called football supporters from Dublin attacked local youths as well as cars and property belonging to residents. 'That is disgraceful and the violence that took place on our streets needs to be condemned. 'It threatened the safety and wellbeing of local residents and stands in stark contrast to the fantastic work that is going on in the area through the Féile and the redevelopment of Meenan Square.' The match finished in a 1-1 draw. Afolabi Akinyemi's first goal for the Candystripes broke the deadlock, before Ross Tierney levelled things for Bohemians. Superintendent William Calderwood said: 'We believe that the disorder we witnessed on Friday evening was pre-arranged and we will be reviewing all available footage to identify those involved. 'I would ask anyone with information or footage which could assist us with our enquiries to contact officers at Strand Road on 101, quoting reference number 1637 25/07/25. 'A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at
