Jury sworn in for case against Barbie Kardashian

The defendant is accused of making threats to kill or cause serious harm to a number of people

Mon, 21 Oct, 2024 - 16:54

David Raleigh

A jury was sworn in before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on Monday to hear the trial of a transgender woman, accused of making threats to kill or cause serious harm to a number of people.

Barbie Kardashian, aged 22, of no fixed abode, is accused of three counts of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Roisín Linnane, who was working as a prison officer at Limerick Prison, on the pertinent dates, April 25, 2023; June 9, 2023; and June 11, 2023.

Ms Kardashian is also accused of making a threat to Tegan McGhee, who the court heard was “an inmate at Limerick Prison”, to kill or cause serious harm to Ms McGhee on February 25, 2023.

The jury members heard that some of the threats involved rape or sexual assault.

Outlining the background to the Director of Public Prosecutions’ case, the prosecuting barrister, John O’Sullivan, said the accused was born a male "to Venezuelan parents in Co Meath”.

“The accused has identified as a female, and, in June 2020 the accused changed names by deed-poll to Barbie Kardashian, and successfully applied for a gender recognition certificate, and changed from male to female on the 18th of August, 2020,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“The allegations against the accused are threats to kill or cause serious harm, and there may be mention of threats to rape and or cause sexual assault,” Mr O’Sullivan continued.

Ms McGhee, as well as a number of prison officers that were attached to Limerick Prison, are expected to give evidence before the court.

Judge Colin Daly told the jury of seven women and five men that the trial is likely to last until the end of this week but that it may also continue into next week.

The judge sent the jury home to begin hearing evidence in the trial on Tuesday, October 22.