Woman jailed for unlawful killing of her cousin in Blanchardstown

A woman has been sentenced to 4½ years for the unlawful killing of her cousin at a house in west Dublin.

Donna O'Brien (25) sobbed as Judge Melanie Greally described how Bernadette Cash "died alone and unaided" when she was left in a critical condition after being attacked by the accused.

The judge said that three men who were also in the house at the time also left the 20-year-old victim in a critical condition.

These men told gardaí­ afterwards that O’Brien said she was arguing with the victim over comments O’Brien believed the victim had said about her child.

Det Sgt Dan Callaghan told the court Ms Cash's body was discovered lying in a hallway of the house at Warrenstown Walk, Blanchardstown, the morning after the assault.

O’Brien of Cherryfield Lawn, Hartstown, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to manslaughter of Ms Cash at on October 30th, 2013.

The court heard O’Brien repeatedly punched Ms Cash in the face after a verbal row. She fell to the ground and witnesses said O’Brien then kicked her repeatedly in the head and body.

One man told gardaí he grabbed O’Brien to try to pull her away but she broke away and kicked Ms Cash again. O’Brien admitted punching Ms Cash but denied kicking her.

The judge imposed a jail term of 4½ years on the manslaughter charge. She also imposed a consecutive 18-month suspended term for unrelated theft offences committed in September 2013.