A mother and daughter who assaulted female gardaí on Halloween night were jailed for six and nine months respectively at Tallaght District Court yesterday.
Evidence was given that clumps of hair were pulled from the head of one of the gardaí who later lost consciousness as a result of the assault.
Olga Quinn (23) of Donomore Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Aisling O'Connor, causing harm, and to public drunkenness and breaching the peace at Donomore Park on October 31st, 2004.
Her mother, Noreen Hilton (47), with a different address at Donomore Park, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Margaret Murphy, causing harm, and assaulting Garda Aisling O'Connor and breaching the peace at Donomore Park on the same night.
Garda O'Connor told Judge Patrick Brady she had been called to Donomore Park after Garda Damien Broughall had arrested a young man, the defendants' son and brother, Hughie.
Garda O'Connor said that a group of 40-50 people had formed, some of whom were shouting "scum and Garda pigs".
After Garda Broughall arrested the young man, Garda O'Connor said she spoke to Ms Hilton.
She said that Ms Hilton then walked away but turned around and threw a beer can at Garda Murphy, hitting her in the face.
She added that Ms Hilton had threatened to burn the Garda station down and had kicked out at her when arrested.
At this point, Ms Quinn got involved and punched Garda O'Connor to the side of the head and started pulling clumps of hair from the garda's head.
Garda O'Connor said that she later lost consciousness in Tallaght Garda station. She said that neither defendant had previous convictions but Ms Quinn had benefited from the Probation Act before.
Their solicitor, Gráinne Malone, said that her clients were remorseful and had pleaded guilty. Ms Malone said that sending both women to jail would only "serve to heighten tensions between people in the area and the gardaí".
When he returned from his chambers where he considered his verdict, Judge Brady fined Ms Quinn €750 and sentenced her to nine months' imprisonment for the assault on Garda O'Connor.
In addition he sentenced her to two months' imprisonment and fined her €350 for breaching the peace and €100 for public intoxication.
He sentenced Ms Hilton to three months' imprisonment and fined her €350 for the assault on Garda O'Connor and to three months' imprisonment consecutive on the last sentence, with a €750 fine for the assault on Garda Murphy. He also fined Ms Hilton €350 and sentenced her to two months' imprisonment for breaching the peace.