Women deny imprisoning baby sitter

Two woman have denied that they falsely imprisoned and assaulted a baby sitter whom they accused of stealing £1,200 cash which had gone missing.

The jury of seven women and five men heard the alleged victim was held against her will for two and a half days, locked in a bathroom and threatened with a hammer.

Karen Leahy (32), Patricks Park, Clondalkin and Liza Brophy (33), Hartstown both pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment of Charlotte Godkin and assaulting her in Sunbury Gardens, Dartry on December 16-18, 1998.

Ms Leahy has also pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage to clothes which were the property of Ms Godkin on the same occasion.

Ms Godkin told prosecuting counsel, Mr Paul Coffey BL, she had started working as a baby-sitter for Ms Leahy in October 1998 and everything seemed to be fine.

She had been in Rathmines in the afternoon of December 16, which was a Wednesday with one of Ms Leahy's children.

After she returned to the house, Ms Leahy arrived and Ms Godkin heard a discussion in the hall concerning £1,200 which had gone missing from Ms Leahy's purse.

This money was to be the children's Christmas money and was left in cash in an envelope in Ms Leahy's handbag. Ms Leahy had gone out to go shopping but forgot her bag. She noticed the money was gone when she returned.

Ms Leahy, accompanied by Ms Brophy, accused Ms Godkin of taking the money and said she was the only one who could have taken it. Ms Godkin told the court there were several other people in and out of the house that day, including some decorators.

She denied she had taken the money and Ms Leahy began screaming and shouting. She picked up a hammer and said she could "do a nice job" on Ms Godkins legs with it.

Ms Brophy said she would put her through the window. Ms Leahy hit Ms Godkin on the head a couple of times with her fists.

Ms Godkin was kept in a spare bedroom at night and in a bathroom during the day while the bedroom was being renovated. She said Ms Leahy kept the key to the bathroom.

At one point Ms Brophy came into the bathroom and accused her of taking the money and hit Ms Godkin on the head with her fists.

Ms Leahy brought in some of Ms Godkin's clothes which she had cut up and told her to think hard

about the money.

Ms Godkin said she broke the bathroom window and shouted to people passing by for help. She saw a man stop but did not think anyone had heard her.

She said Ms Leahy's boyfriend told her to let Ms Godkin go as her family had phoned looking for her and the gardai might come round. Ms Godkin was told she could leave and was given a suitcase and a bag with some of her belongings.

As she was leaving, Ms Leahy shouted after her that she could pick up the rest of her things when she returned the money.

Ms Godkin agreed with defense counsel for Ms Leahy, Mr Ciaran O'Loughlin SC (with MR Sean Gillane BL), that she had told Ms Leahy she would reimburse her the money but said she had told her this because she was in fear and wanted to get out of the place.

She denied in cross-examination by defense counsel for Ms Brophy, Mr Jerry O'Brien SC, that there had been a previous argument about a £50 note and two £20 notes which had gone missing.

She agreed she was left with the children when Ms Leahy had gone on holidays and had been given £150 wages and £150 for groceries and that she approached Ms Brophy three days later for more money for nappies and on three other occasions and also asked for her wages in advance.

Mr Tim Hughes told Mr Coffey he lives in Sunbury Gardens and heard someone calling for help from Ms Leahy's house on December 18. He said he could not see who was calling so he continued on with his business.

The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Yvonne Murphy.