Two women have denied that they falsely imprisoned and assaulted a babysitter whom they accused of stealing £1,200.
A Central Criminal Court jury of seven women and five men heard that the alleged victim was held against her will for 2½ days, locked in a bathroom and threatened with a hammer.
Ms Karen Leahy (32), Patrick's Park, Clondalkin, and Ms Liza Brophy (33), Hartstown, pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment and assault of Ms Charlotte Godkin in Sunbury Gardens, Dartry, on December 16-18th, 1998. Ms Leahy has also pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage to Ms Godkin's clothes on the same occasion.
Ms Godkin told prosecuting counsel Mr Paul Coffey that she started working as a babysitter for Ms Leahy in October 1998 and everything seemed to be fine.
She had been in Rathmines with one of Ms Leahy's children in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 16th.
After she returned to the house, Ms Leahy arrived and Ms Godkin heard a discussion in the hall concerning £1,200 which had gone missing from Ms Leahy's purse.
This money was to be the children's Christmas money and was left in cash in an envelope in Ms Leahy's handbag. Ms Leahy had gone out shopping but forgot her bag.
She noticed the money was gone when she returned.
Ms Leahy, accompanied by Ms Brophy, accused Ms Godkin of taking the money, saying she was the only one who could have taken it. Ms Godkin told the court there were several other people in and out of the house that day, including some decorators.
She denied taking the money and Ms Leahy began screaming. She picked up a hammer and said she could "do a nice job" on Ms Godkin's legs with it. Ms Brophy said she would put her through the window. Ms Leahy hit Ms Godkin on the head a few times with her fists.
Ms Godkin was kept in a spare bedroom at night and in a bathroom during the day while the bedroom was being renovated. She said Ms Leahy kept the key to the bathroom.
At one point Ms Brophy came into the bathroom and accused her of taking the money and hit Ms Godkin on the head with her fists. Ms Leahy brought in some of Ms Godkin's clothes which she had cut up and told her to think hard about the money.
Ms Godkin said she broke the bathroom window and shouted to people passing by for help. She saw a man stop but did not think anyone had heard her.
She said Ms Leahy's boyfriend told her to let Ms Godkin go as her family had phoned looking for her and the gardaí might come round. Ms Godkin was told she could leave and was given a suitcase and a bag with some of her belongings.
Ms Godkin agreed with defence counsel for Ms Leahy, Mr Ciaran O'Loughlin SC (with Mr Sean Gillane), that she had told Ms Leahy she would reimburse her the money but said she had told her this because she was afraid and wanted to get out.
She denied in cross-examination by defence counsel for Ms Brophy, Mr Jerry O'Brien SC, that there had been a previous argument about a £50 note and two £20 notes which had gone missing.
She agreed she was left with the children when Ms Leahy had gone on holidays and had been given £150 wages and £150 for groceries and that she approached Ms Brophy three days later for more money for nappies and also asked for her wages in advance.
The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Yvonne Murphy.