Woman had jaw broken by girl, 17, in pub bathroom

A young woman was subjected to a terrifying attack in the bathroom of a pub during which she had her jaw broken by a 17-year-old schoolgirl.

Lisa Hanley, from Roscommon, did not know her attacker but was set upon in the unprovoked, late-night assault, during which she was dragged from one end of the bathroom to the other, had clumps of her hair pulled out, and was kicked in the stomach.

Elaine Heslin, now aged 20 and with addresses at Kilcavan, Co Offaly, and Dublin, admitted assault causing harm to Ms Hanley in the pub on December 27, 2010.

In a letter read to Judge Tony Hunt at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court, the accused apologised for her actions. Garda Colette O’Donnell told the court Ms Hanley was socialising with her boyfriend and friends in Roscommon town on December 26 and, before midnight, had gone to the Coachman’s Inn on Castle St.

At about 12.15am she went to the bathroom, but the lock in the cubicle was broken. Someone began knocking on the door and told her to hurry up.

Heslin, whom she did not know, pushed the door open and caught the side of her head up against the wall of the cubicle. Ms Hanley was pulled by the hair and kicked by her attacker, who said, “You think you are great. I’ll teach you.”

A witness said she saw Heslin push Ms Hanley to the ground, pull her hair, and drag her across the bathroom. The witness saw her kick Ms Hanley in the stomach and saw blood and clumps of hair on the bathroom floor.

The court heard Ms Hanley suffered a fractured jaw and abrasions in the attack. She was now anxious in places where there were a lot of people, had stopped socialising, and was in fear there would be a repeat whenever she might meet her attacker.

The court was told Heslin suffered from personality, behavioural, and social disorders, but was hoping to get into gainful employment. She had €500 to offer Ms Hanley.

Judge Hunt imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. He placed her under the direction of the Probation Service for 12 months and ordered her to abstain from alcohol and stay out of pubs.