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Woman, who attacked and pulled clumps of hair from mum travelling with baby on Dublin Bus, avoids jail

Judge Martin Nolan noted that there were “pre-existing tensions” between the two families involved.

college green 635_90535340_90548428 File photo Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

A YOUNG DUBLIN woman who violently attacked a mother travelling on a Dublin Bus with her baby has avoided a jail sentence.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Emily Stewart (22) pulled clumps of hair from her victim’s head and left her bleeding from facial scratches.

Coolock woman pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Shannon Ryan on a bus outside Connolly Station, Dublin, on 10 March 2017.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of assault causing harm to Sabrina Ryan, the mother of Shannon Ryan, on 12 March 2017, when she bit her finger, punched her and scraped her face.

Today Judge Martin Nolan fully suspended a six-month sentence noting that there were “pre-existing tensions” between the two families.

Garda Daniel Eccles told Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting, that Shannon Ryan got on the 27 bus outside Connolly Station to travel to the city centre with her three-and-a-half month old baby.

Ordered off

The defendant got on at the next stop and ordered Ryan to get off the bus.

The court heard that when Shannon Ryan refused to do this she was “set upon” by the defendant who grabbed her by the hair.

Garda Eccles said Stewart kicked the victim, as she fought back in self defence.

He told Duffy that the victim sustained cuts to her neck, a loss of hair and bruising to her mouth and face.

Two days later the victim’s mother was traveling on the same bus route when Stewart encountered her and began verbally abusing her.

“She dived on her, punched her, leaving her with a black eye, and scraped her face,” Eccles said.

Stewart has three previous convictions for theft.

‘Ashamed and embarrassed’

Emmet Nolan BL, defending, said his client was ashamed and embarrassed despite the fact there was tension between the two families. He said she cooperated fully with gardai and had completed a hairdressing apprenticeship.

The court heard Stewart suffered from mental health issues including anger issues and a borderline personality disorder.

Nolan said Stewart was addicted to illegal drugs at the time of the assaults and was not taking her prescription medication. He said she was remorseful for her actions.

Judge Nolan said it seemed it seemed to him that the defendant attacked the victims in an unprovoked and nasty way.

“It must have been very frightening for them,” he said.

He noted she was taking steps to deal with her problems but said that the fact of the matter were that some of her issues were self-induced.

Judge Nolan ordered her to pay €750 to each victim within one calendar year.

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    Mute Lou Tennant
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    Oct 28th 2015, 10:36 AM

    If I ever met he creator of candy crush, it would take all my strength and willpower not to strangle them with my bare hands

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    Mute Valentino R
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    Oct 28th 2015, 10:42 AM

    or beat them to death with a stick of rock.

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    Mute Sternn
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    Oct 29th 2015, 4:53 AM

    If you ever read the history of the game and the company which made it you most certainly would. They ripped off a free game called Candy Swipe which was released years before Candy Crush by a man named Albert Ransom. King.com robbed his idea, then trademarked it, and then sued him out of existence. Albert Ransom who made CandySwipe was trying to raise money and awareness for leukemia as his mother was diagnosed with it.

    Best part – that was not the first time King.com had done this to other small game developers, but due to US law they have robbed other games from smaller developers, changed one small feature, got a copyright on it, then sued the original creator for the rights and won thanks to their shady solicitors and mental IP laws in America.

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    Mute James Darcy
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    Oct 28th 2015, 10:44 AM

    I loved Facebook but it’s constant look for more interaction and invites and likes and all the other insecure BS drove me insane. Longing for the no-frills social network.

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    Mute Amanda Horan
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    Oct 28th 2015, 1:02 PM

    Try twitter. At the minute it has less frills but it will eventually go the same way.

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Oct 28th 2015, 10:58 AM

    If only my life was so boring that a few game invites infuriated me. Just ignore them, it’s a social media site .

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    Mute Dread Pirate Robots
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    Oct 28th 2015, 10:53 AM

    James, we just call it Twitter.

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    Mute Imogene O'Brien
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    Oct 28th 2015, 11:18 AM

    Friends have become enemies over candy crush invites. Family members have been blocked because of candy crush invites.

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    Mute Barbara Christopher
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    Oct 28th 2015, 10:47 AM

    YESSSSSSS

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    Oct 28th 2015, 11:44 AM

    Thank Christ.

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    Mute Joe Harte
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    Oct 28th 2015, 12:15 PM

    It still isn’t enough to keep people fro using facebook the way they did say 5 years ago.

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