Three women who tore out a chunk of another woman's hair and set it on fire, behaving "like mad dogs", have been remanded on continuing bail for sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Antoinette Geoghan (18), Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, and Jennifer Melia (26), Custom House, Gardener Street, Dublin, both pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Rhona Brady on Parnell Street on October 17th, 2003.
Geoghan also pleaded guilty, with Martina O'Connor (18), Woodford Close, Clondalkin, to robbing an 18-year-old girl in the Firhouse area a week earlier on October 10th, 2003.
Garda Liam O'Donoghue told the court Ms Brady was stopped at a Centra shop on the junction of Parnell Street and O'Connell Street with two male friends. Ms Brady's friend approached three girls standing nearby and had a conversation with Melia that resulted in an altercation.
Melia then started taunting the man who ignored her but she and the other two girls, one of which was Geoghan, followed him and turned their attention to Ms Brady. Melia removed Ms Brady's cap from her head and handed it to Geoghan. The third culprit, who has yet to be dealt with, then set Ms Brady's hair on fire.
Garda O'Donoghue said the fire was quickly extinguished but Melia and Geoghan then pulled Ms Brady's hair and dragged her to the ground.
Judge McDonagh said the evidence showed how "gangs of young women behave like mad dogs". He told Geoghan, Melia and O'Connor he was sufficiently angry to take a unbalanced approach to their sentence, which he adjourned after he shouted that they were "three little bullies".
He remanded all three on bail for sentencing on November 14th and ordered an updated probation report after advising the prosecuting gardaí, "if they so much as jaywalk, I want to be told".