Woman who stabbed bar manager 11 days after her son’s funeral given suspended sentence

Eimear Dodd and Sonya McLean

A woman who stabbed a bar manager 11 days after her murdered son’s funeral has been given a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence.

Mary Hand (49) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and possession of an article in the course of a dispute on February 3rd 2024.

Hand, of Beachfield Heights, Castaheany, Clonee, Dublin 15 was on Tuesday given a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence on condition that she engage with the Probation Service for 18 months.

Garda Derek O'Reilly told Joe Mulrean BL, prosecuting, that Hand and another woman were drinking at a pub on Fleet Street.

The pub's manager noticed the two women were intoxicated and being loud.

He decided not to serve them further, asked them to leave, and poured their drinks into disposable cups.

Hand started to shout abuse at him and was resistant to leaving the premises.

At the pub's door, Hand lunged at the injured party, swiping at him. He ducked and felt something on his torso.

He grabbed Hand's wrist and pushed her out of the door. The injured party then noticed a knife on the ground and cuts to his shirt.
CCTV was played in court.

When gardaí on patrol arrived, they recovered an orange Stanley knife, which was shown to the court. Hand was sitting outside.

The injured party sustained a 6cm cut to his abdomen and an 8cm cut to his chest. He was taken to hospital and a medical report was provided to the court. He declined to make a victim impact statement.

Hand was arrested and, when interviewed, said she didn't remember what happened.

She told gardaí that she met a friend, whose name she couldn't think of, and they travelled into the city centre.

Hand identified herself on CCTV, but denied having any interactions with staff at the pub or carrying a knife. She said she was taking medication and had no memory of the night.

Hand has previous convictions, including for two threats to kill and public order offences.

O'Reilly agreed that Hand had entered an early guilty plea, was remorseful and expressed concern for the injured party.

It was further accepted that this incident took place 11 days after the funeral of her son, who was murdered.

The garda agreed that Hand has no previous convictions for violent offending.

Defence counsel noted this was “clearly significant and serious offending”, which Hand had no memory of, primarily as a result of alcohol abuse.

A friend suggested they go for a few drinks, but Hand acknowledges she shouldn't have.

It was submitted that Hand's offending behaviour was related to the conditions at the time.

She said she can't explain how she had the knife in her possession and accepts it may have been due to feelings of paranoia and concern.

Hand had a difficult childhood and has suffered several tragedies in her life, the court was told.

A psychological report and several letters were handed to the court.

Counsel said Hand had used alcohol as a “crutch” during times of significant grief.

Counsel asked the court to take into consideration the “unusual background circumstances” of this case.

Judge Martina Baxter noted that Hand’s son had been murdered and acknowledged how difficult that must have been for her.

She said looking at her previous convictions, it was clear that “alcohol had been her drug of choice over the years”.

Judge Baxter accepted that Hand had demonstrated remorse and had expressed concern for the victim in the case.

She said a probation report before the court clearly indicated that Hand has made “genuine efforts at rehabilitation” and noted that a report from her doctor “commended the fact that she has stayed away from alcohol”.

“She has adopted an approach that is indicative of genuine, which is very impressive considering her difficulties. She is standing tall at this point,” Judge Baxter said.

Judge Baxter accepted that Hand has “made great progress” in addressing her abuse of alcohol which she said was the main factor in her offending behaviour.

She said the aggravating features of the case were the fact that she was “carrying a weapon of offence and was prepared to use it”. She noted that the victim was a working man who was trying to protect others that night.

Judge Baxter imposed a sentence of three and a half years, which she suspended in full for four years on condition that Hand engage with the Probation Service for 18 months.

“The very best of luck to you now,” Judge Baxter said to Hand after she entered into her bond before the court.