Attacker upset husband brought her to pool game on birthday

A judge has banned a woman from every pub in the north Clare town of Ennistymon for 12 months.

Judge Patrick Durcan imposed the ban after Kathleen Donovan of Clancy Park, Ennis pleaded guilty on Thursday to the assault of Michelle Garrihy in McInerney’s pub in Ennistymon on October 31st, 2016.

Judge Durcan said the mother-of-10 had engaged in “appalling behaviour” when assaulting Michelle Garrihy from Ennistymon, that resulted in the mother-of-three being hospitalised.

Solicitor for Ms Donovan, John Casey said that Ms Donovan’s husband, Martin “Gu Gu” Donovan brought his wife out for her 42nd birthday celebration on the night.

Mr Casey said that, instead of being treated to a romantic candle-lit meal with a couple of glasses of wine, Mr Donovan brought his wife to a pub to watch him play pool with his friends. Mr Casey said his client was upset by the way she was treated by her husband more than anyone else.

Mr Casey said Ms Donovan had drink taken and took her frustration out on Ms Garrihy after reading the situation wrong when Mr Donovan shook hands with Ms Garrrihy in the pub.“Ms Donovan accepts that Ms Garrihy did no wrong on the night,” said Mr Casey.

In her victim-impact statement, Ms Garrihy said that, before assaulting her in the pub, Ms Donovan told her she was “a whore’s bastard”.

Insp Tom Kennedy said Ms Donovan assaulted Ms Garrihy by pulling her hair, knocking her on to the ground, and hitting her a number of times.

In evidence, Ms Garrihy said Ms Donovan then called out “boys, boys, boys . . . and her two sons came over and continuously kicked me into the head until I was unconscious”.

Ms Garrihy said that she was brought by ambulance to University Hospital Galway and kept in overnight.

“She regrets what happened and apologises and has never been in trouble before,” said Mr Casey.

Judge Durcan said Ms Donovan is lucky she doesn’t have any previous convictions “otherwise she would be going by Paddywagon express to Limerick prison”.

As well as the pub ban, he imposed a fine of €500 on Ms Donovan.