'She kept a cool head': Teenager uses her karate skills to fend off would-be attacker

"Whatever way the man grabbed her arm, Kate saw an opening and thankfully remembered her kempo training...She kicked him hard in the ribs."

A worried mum has urged parents to make sure their children can defend themselves after her teenage daughter managed to fend off a would-be attacker on Tuesday afternoon.

Hazel Mulhern said her 17-year-old daughter Kate was walking their new puppy not far from their home at Blackcastle Demense in Navan, Co Meath at 2pm when the incident occurred.