FIVE women, including two mothers and two daughters, went on trial this Friday (May 16) in connection with an alleged knife attack on a woman during an alleged aggravated burglary at her home in Rathkeale.
The complainant, Christina McCarthy (née Harty), sustained disfiguring knife wounds to her face and left hand as she was trying to defend herself, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard.
The aggravated burglary and knife attack allegedly occurred at Ms McCarthy’s home at Ballingrane, Rathkeale, on December 10, 2019.
Sergeant Rob Sheehy, Henry Street Garda Station, showed photographs in court of knife wounds to Ms McCarthy’s face as well as “two gashes or wounds” on her left hand.
Sergeant Sheehy agreed with prosecuting barrister, Lily Buckley, that the knife wounds to Ms McCarthy’s face “ran along her jaws up to her ears”.
Ms Buckley told the court that Ms McCarthy was resting in her bedroom when all five accused women arrived together in cars at her home on the date in question.
Inspector Barry Manton confirmed in court that photographs shown to the jury that were taken by Gardaí at the scene included images of bloodied hair as well as “blood spattering” and “blood staining” found on flooring, walls, and bedsheets inside the complainant’s house.
Mother and daughter Nora “Josie” Harty (57) and Mary Ellen Daly (neé Harty, 34), both with an address at Lisheen Park, Patrickswell, are accused of one count of committing aggravated burglary while in possession of knives at Ms McCarthy’s home, during which they allegedly assaulted her causing her serious harm.
Nora Harty, a first cousin of the complainant, is also charged with causing criminal damage to a window at the complainant’s home, the court heard.
Ciara Johnson (30), of St Ita’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick, and Christina Casey (48), St Aidan’s Close, Brookfield, Tallaght, Dublin, are charged that, while in possessing of a knife and a baseball bat respectively, they committed aggravated burglary at Ms McCarthy’s home, during which they intended to assault her causing her harm.
The court heard that Ciara Johnson is a daughter-in-law to Nora Harty, and Ms Casey is Nora Harty’s sister.
The fifth accused, Rita Johnson (51), St Ita’s Street, St Mary’s Park, mother to Ciara Johnson, is charged with committing burglary at Ms McCarthy’s house, during which she intended to assault and cause harm to Ms McCarthy.
Ms Buckley told the jury that the alleged knife attack and burglary occurred 24 hours after an alleged verbal and physical interaction involving the complainant, her daughter Amanda Sheridan (née McCarthy), and two of the five accused, Mary Ellen Daly and Ciara Johnson.
Each of the five accused have pleaded not guilty before a jury of eight men and four women in front of Judge Fiona O’Sullivan at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
Ms Buckley, instructed by Brendan Gill, state solicitor for County Limerick, told the jury that “the accused are presumed innocent and retain that presumption of innocence until you may decide otherwise”.
“The burden of proof is on the prosecution and the standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt – not beyond all doubt,” the prosecution barrister added.
Nora Josie Harty is represented by barrister Liam Carroll; Mary Ellen Daly is represented by barrister Grace Hogan; Ciara Johnson is being represented by barrister Karla Ray; Christina Casey is represented by barrister Joseph McMahon; and Rita Johnson is represented by barrister Johanna O’Connor.
The trial resumes on Monday when the court is expected to hear evidence from the complainant.
