A judge has banned a 42 year old mother of ten from every pub in the north Clare town of Ennistymon for 12 months.
Judge Patrick Durcan imposed the ban after Kathleen Donovan of Clancy Park, Ennis pleaded guilty to the assault of Michelle Garrihy in McInerney’s pub in Ennistymon on October 31st 2016.
Judge Durcan said that Ms Donovan had engaged in “appalling behaviour” when assaulting Michelle Garrihy from Ennistymon that resulted in the mother of three being hospitalised.
Solicitor for Ms Donovan, John Casey said that Ms Donovan’s husband, Martin ‘Gu Gu’ Donovan brought his wife out for her 42nd birthday celebration on the night.
Mr Casey said that instead of being treated to a romantic candle-lit meal with a couple of glasses of wine, Mr Donovan brought his wife to a pub to watch him play pool with his friends.
Mr Casey said that his client was upset by the way she was treated by her husband more than anyone else.
Mr Casey said that Ms Donovan had drink taken and took her frustration out on Ms Garrihy when assaulting after reading the situation wrong when Mr Donovan shook hands with Ms Garrrihy in the pub.
Mr Casey said: “Ms Donovan accepts that Ms Garrihy did no wrong on the night.”
In her victim impact statement, Ms Garrihy said that before assaulting her in the pub, Ms Donovan told her that she was ‘a whore’s bastard’.
Inspector Tom Kennedy said that Ms Donovan assaulted Ms Garrihy by pulling her hair, knocked onto the ground and hitting her a number of times.
In evidence, Ms Garrihy said that after her pulling down, Ms Donovan called out ‘boys, boys, boys’ and her two sons came over and continuously kicked me into the head until I was unconscious”.
Ms Garrihy said that Ms Donovan and her two sons kicked her while she was on the ground.
Ms Garrihy said that she was brought by ambulance to University Hospital Galway and kept in overnight.
Mr Casey said that his client has no previous convictions. He said: “She regrets what happened and apologises and has never been in trouble before.”
Judge Durcan said that Ms Donovan is lucky that she doesn’t have any previous convictions “otherwise she would be going by Paddywagon express to Limerick prison”.
Judge Durcan also imposed a fine of €500 on Ms Donovan.
