Dublin glamour model found guilty of assault

A Dublin glamour model is awaiting sentence for assault after she admitted she jumped on a woman and then began to bite and scratch her.

Bridget Byrne (26), who works under the name of Ava Van Rose, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to assault causing harm to Helen Guinan at a house at Wheatfield Avenue in Clondalkin, Dublin, on October 20th 2013.

The model, who starred in the short-lived reality show Infectious, appeared at Dublin District Court on Tuesday where Judge John Cheatle adjourned sentencing to allow time for a probation report on her to be prepared.

She had initially indicated she would contest the case on the grounds that she acted in self-defence. However, defence solicitor Brian Keenan told the court on Tuesday that she was now pleading guilty.

Garda Gerard Clifford of Ronanstown station told Judge Cheatle that Ms Byrne has a daughter with Helen Guinan’s partner. There had been a row over their arrangements for the child to be collected.

Gda Clifford said that mother-of-three Ms Byrne, who has no prior criminal convictions, then turned up at Ms Guinnan’s home. Gda Clifford said that when the door was opened Ms Byrne “jumped on Helen Guinan in the front hall and put her fingers in her eyes, she was biting her left had and scratching her face”.

The woman suffered cuts to her face and the skin on her hand was broken. A medical report was handed in and Gda Clifford agreed with the defence solicitor that the injuries were superficial.

Gardai received a complaint two days later and they interviewed Ms Byrne, who now has an address at An Luasan, Ballybrit, Co Galway but is from Clondalkin.

Ms Guinan was present but did not address the court.

Gda Clifford also agreed that Ms Byrne, who sat silently in the witness box, did not have any prior criminal convictions and has not come to garda attention since. The garda agreed that that the row was over family matters.

A District Court conviction for the assault could result in a fine and a possible sentence of up to one year.

Mr Keenan said his client has worked as a model and hopes to resume her education to study to become a personal trainer. He asked the court to take into account her guilty plea and the fact that she has no prior convictions.