No jail for woman who stabbed rugby players with scissors

A 23 year-old woman who attacked three rugby players with a pair of scissors outside a Dublin night club, puncturing one man’s lung, has been ordered to pay a fine and perform community service rather than serve a three-year jail term.

Ciara Byrne, of Darley Terrace, Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to three counts of assault causing harm to three men outside Tramco Nightclub on Lower Rathmines Road on October 26, 2007.

Judge Desmond Hogan said Byrne had no previous convictions and was at low risk of reoffending. He imposed a three-year jail term but suspended it on condition that she perform 240 hours work in the community and pay a fine of €900.

The injured parties, Darragh Fanning, Michael Finley and Jonathan Sexton, are members of Saint Mary’s College Rugby Team in Templeogue. Mr Sexton has played for Leinster in the Magners League and represented Ireland at U-21 level.

Detective Garda Gary Sheridan earlier told Ms Caroline Biggs BL, prosecuting, that Byrne told gardaí that she had been cutting her friend’s hair earlier in the day which is why she had a pair of scissors in her possession.

An altercation occurred outside the nightclub between Byrne and her friends. The three injured parties became involved and she stabbed each of them with the scissors, causing one man to suffer a punctured lung.

Byrne was identified when gardaí examined CCTV footage of the incident. She was arrested and made admissions during interview.

Defence counsel, Luigi Rea BL, said Byrne had co-operated fully with the Probation Services. She entered into a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a period of three years.