A WOMAN who attacked three men with a pair of scissors outside a Dublin nightclub, puncturing one man's lung, has been ordered to pay a fine and perform community service rather than serve a three-year jail term.
Ciara Byrne (23), Donore Avenue, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court yesterday to three counts of assault causing harm to three men outside Tramco nightclub on Lower Rathmines Road in October 2007.
Judge Desmond Hogan said Byrne had no previous convictions and was at low risk of reoffending. He imposed a three-year jail term but suspended it on condition that she perform 240 hours work in the community and pay a fine of €900.
Darragh Fanning, Michael Finley and Jonathan Sexton are members of St Mary's College Rugby Club in Templeogue. Mr Sexton has played for Leinster in the Magners League and has represented Ireland at under-21 level.
Det Garda Gary Sheridan earlier told Caroline Biggs, prosecuting, that Byrne told gardaí she had been cutting her friend's hair earlier in the day, which is why she had scissors in her possession.
The court heard an altercation occurred outside the nightclub between Byrne and her friends. The men became involved and she stabbed each of them with the scissors, puncturing the lung of one.
Byrne was identified from CCTV footage of the incident. She was arrested and made admissions during interview.
Luigi Rea, defending, said Byrne had co-operated fully with the Probation Services. She entered into a bond to keep the peace and to be of good behaviour for three years.