A woman who carried out “vicious” attacks on two friends in two separate incidents has been sentenced to prison.
Valerie McGovern, 57, of Shangan Terrace, Ballymun, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty to two separate counts of causing harm to Patricia Nolan at Shangan Green, Santry on 13 October 2018 and Aishling Groves at Whiteacre Place, Ballymun on 29 August 2020, reports Breaking News.
She has eight previous convictions, including theft, destruction of property and public nuisance.
Judge Elma Sheahan, who handed down the sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, noted the “vicious nature of the attacks” McGovern inflicted on both victims.
She said the psychological damage done to the victims is not hard to understand given the nature of the physical damage they suffered.
She sentenced McGovern to a total sentence of four years and four months, with the remaining eight months suspended under severe conditions.
Garda David Jordan told Fiona Crawford BL that McGovern and Ms Nolan had argued in the weeks leading up to the attack. Ms. Nolan heard a knock on the door at 2:30 am and saw another friend outside.
A victim impact statement was issued but not read out in court. Ms. Nolan has since moved out of Ballymun, reports Breaking News.
A medical report and photographs were provided to the court.
The court heard that Ms Groves was terrified after the incident because the defendant lived nearby. Ms. Groves was receiving medical treatment at the time, which had to be stopped because of the assault.
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