Woman flung teen ‘around like a rag doll’ during assault

A teenage girl was swung by the hair and had her face smashed into a steel pole during an assault which a judge compared to being “flung around like a rag doll”.

The victim, a Leaving Certificate student at the time of the attack, will require continuing dental treatment, Mullingar Circuit Court heard yesterday.

Imposing a two-year suspended sentence on Elaine Greene, aged 24, Ashford, Monksland, Athlone, Judge Tony Hunt described her assault on a 17-year-old as disgusting and repulsive.

On May 10, 2010, the victim was crossing Church Street, Athlone to get a taxi home from a nightclub when Greene, who was in a row with another woman, caught her by the hair and swung her 360 degrees, smashing her face against a pole.

The assault was unprovoked and Greene did not know the victim who lost consciousness for a number of minutes and suffered head and neck injuries.

The victim lost two teeth. Damage to bone in her jaw means she will require serious continuing dental treatment, including the possibility of bone grafting.

Detective Sergeant Eamon Curley said Greene had been unable to explain why she assaulted the teenager but apologised soon afterwards.

He read a victim impact statement outlining how the victim had around 50 medical appointments during the year she sat her Leaving Certificate, missing considerable school time which had to be made up later.

The girl was angry that such an incident could happen when she was just going for a taxi and worried about future painful, invasive, surgery which may not be successful.

A college student now, she was afraid to go out after the assault and had difficulty sleeping.

Shane Geraghty BL said Greene had not intended to hurt the teenager, but Judge Hunt insisted that hurt was intended to someone, if not the actual victim.

Mr Geraghty said Greene had no previous convictions and was well educated with business and childcare qualifications.

The incident was an aberration he said, offering €5,000 part compensation immediately and the promise of further compensation.

Greene apologised, saying she knew the incident had been “horrendous” for the victim and her family.

Judge Hunt said a prison sentence was warranted when a young, attractive girl had her teeth smashed up and will have medical issues and costs in the future.

He said Greene seemed reluctant to face up to the rage which caused her to fling the teenager “like a rag doll”. He opted to suspend a two-year sentence, for two years, if Greene pays €16,000 towards the teenager’s medical costs by June 17.