Woman’s arm broken during Christmas party row

A Christmas night out at a hotel in Cork ended with one woman pushing another woman down steps, causing her to break her arm in two places.

Judge Con O’Leary yesterday ordered Sharon Crowley, of 24 Ashbrook Heights, Lehenaghmore, Togher, Cork, to do 200 hours of community service instead of serving two months in prison for the assault.

Crowley, aged 33, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to a charge of assault causing harm to Louise Crowley, who is aged around 20 and is not related to the defendant.

Insp Mary King said that at 4am on Jan 8 the parties were leaving the Vienna Woods hotel after a Christmas night out. She said Sharon Crowley pushed Louise Crowley down steps, causing two fractures to one arm and a wound to her forehead that required six stitches.

The judge asked the injured party if that account given by the inspector was in accordance with her memory of the events. Louise Crowley said that after being pushed in the back down the steps the defendant approached her and tried to assault her a second time. The defence denied any second assault.

Asked what gave rise to it, the injured party said the defendant told her she was not taking care of her mother. The judge suggested the injured party might have given a smart answer. Louise Crowley said: “Probably.”