Woman (49) accused of kicking man’s genitals during ‘sustained and vicious’ attack

Tom Tuite

A 49-year-old woman charged over a “sustained and vicious” attack in Dublin city centre kicked and stepped on a man’s genitals and beat him around the face during an hour-long ordeal, a court heard.

Dublin District Court heard it happened after the man (47) “politely” refused to give her money before being “led” around the city in fear by the accused and an accomplice and attacked again.

Jackie McElhatton, who is of no fixed address, was refused bail by Judge Gerard Jones on Thursday, accused of assault causing harm to the man and robbery at Hatch Street and Harcourt Street, both in Dublin 2, in the early hours of April 12th.

Objecting to bail at Garda Callum Hegarty cited the seriousness of the case and concerns that the accused would not turn up to court.

Judge Gerard Jones heard that the complainant went to Pearse Street Garda Station two days later, claiming that he was subjected to a vicious and sustained attack.

Garda Hegarty said the man reported that he had been out socialising and that between 4 and 6am, he had attempted to hail a taxi home.

He walked via Hatch Street, where he met a female, alleged to have been the accused, Jackie McElhatton, and a male.

The accused asked the man for money, “which he politely declined,” at which it was then claimed that Ms McElhatton “struck him with a bottle on the head”, causing him to bleed.

The contested bail hearing was told that the woman and an accomplice, who was not before the court, then led the man to Harcourt Street, where they remained until a short time later, both parties began assaulting the man with punches again.

When asked by the judge if the man had been detained, the garda explained the complainant was in fear that if he left them, he would be assaulted.

The court heard claims that he was struck several times, thrown to the ground and “physically dragged across to the laneway at Camden Place.

It was alleged that Ms McElhatton could be seen on CCTV footage kicking and stepping on the complainant’s genital area and striking him several times in the face.

The entire incident lasted over an hour from the first attack.

Garda Hegarty agreed with defence counsel Sam Friel that the accused and the complainant were not known to each other and witness interference was not a concern.

Counsel was informed that the extent of the man’s injuries was unknown as the officer did not have a medical report. The robbery charge states that his wallet and phone were taken.

Mr Friel said his client, a mother who previously had an address at Camden Street, had been affected by homelessness.

However, he added that she had been getting assistance from a community-based project, which was also helping her find secure accommodation and deal with other issues.

The barrister argued that engaging with that assistance could go a long way to alleviate the garda’s concerns.

He stressed that his client had a presumption of innocence, and counsel challenged the officer’s assertion that Ms McElhatton would fail to turn up in court.

The accused pleaded for bail, saying the garda “made it sound like he was beaten for an hour, he wasn’t”.

Judge Jones described the case as very serious, saying he had “no hesitation” in denying her bail and remanding her in custody pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Legal aid was granted.