A 25-year-old mother of three who beat a man over the head with his own crutch, before he died the next day following another assault, has been given a 12- month suspended sentence.
Sharon Lovett, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Mr Gerard McGuinness on September 26th, 2002. The court heard the 45-year-old father of two died in hospital after he lost consciousness as a result of another assault, hours after he was attacked by Lovett.
A bench warrant was issued for Lovett's co-accused William Burke, also of no fixed abode, who pleaded guilty to assault in relation to the second incident but fled from the court before the sentence hearing.
Det Inspector Gabriel O'Gara told prosecuting counsel, Mr Paul Carroll BL, that Mr McGuinness had been drinking cider in an area known as "The Fountain" on the corner of James Street and Stephens Lane in Dublin 8.
He said Lovett had a grievance with Mr McGuinness after she had stayed with the victim with her child when she was homeless and claimed she had woken up to find herself in a state of undress.
However, Det Insp O'Gara confirmed, that there had been no complaint to the Garda or an investigation in relation to these allegations.
Witnesses saw Lovett striking Mr McGuinness a number of times and she subsequently admitted to slapping him in the face and hitting him over the head with his own crutch.
She was heard calling him a "molester" and a "scumbag" and a 14-year-old boy who was passing said he noticed blood gushing from the victim's forehead.
Det Insp O'Gara said that another man, who was not before the court, returned to the scene shortly afterwards and further assaulted Mr McGuinness.
The victim stayed at the scene for another four hours before he was assaulted for a final time as he walked towards his home at the Basin Street flats. There Mr Burke struck him between four and six times with his fists before hitting him with his crutch between his neck and his head.
Mr Erwan Mill Arden SC, defending, described his client as a young mother who had led a life of "enormous personal tragedy."
She had been homeless since she was 12 years of age and after becoming addicted to heroin, had managed to wean herself off drugs of her own accord. Her counsellor at Merchants Quay gave evidence that she was very remorseful.
A tearful Lovett told Judge Desmond Hogan: "I've had this on my head for the last nearly three years." Judge Hogan suspended the sentence against Lovett, noting her early guilty plea, her contrition and the fact that she had no previous convictions.
She agreed to adhere to a bond to keep the peace for a period of two years.