Two women involved in violent row to be bound to peace

Two women who became embroiled in a violent exchange at a Mullingar housing estate just over 12 months ago look set to avoid any criminal sanction after both were deemed suitable to enter into a peace bond.

Teresa McDermott (50) of 7 Newtown Lawns, Mullingar, Westmeath, and Kelly Starr (39), of 4 Chestnut Close, Royal Canal, Mullingar, Westmeath, had appeared before Mullingar District Court last March to face assault charges arising from an incident on September 4, 2024.

Jurisdiction (a legal term to determine whether a case should remain in the District Court or be sent forward to the Circuit Court) was accepted. The court heard how the incident took place at around 9am when, state evidence contended, Ms Starr saw a woman approaching her apartment as she glanced out her window.

The door of Ms Starr’s home had been open at the time, as it was a humid morning and it was alleged that Ms McDermott arrived at the door “roaring and shouting” before squaring up to Ms Starr.

The court heard that as Ms Starr attempted to put distance between herself and Ms McDermott, the latter delivered a “headbutt of sorts” by pushing her face into her opposite number’s face, hitting her under the eye.

A counter allegation was made by Ms McDermott that Ms Starr grabbed her by the hair with two hands, pulling her towards the ground.

In her statement to gardaí, Ms McDermott also alleged that Ms Starr punched her in the mouth and above the eye.

Neither woman required medical treatment and the court was told at the time that the prospect of the pair being bound to the peace for an undisclosed period of time was being explored.

When the case returned last week, Diarmuid Quinn for Ms McDermott, inquired if the state had made any headway in that regard in the intervening seven months.

Sgt Sheila Kenny replied by confirming the prosecution were “amenable” to both women entering into a peace bond.

Judge Deirdre Gearty said an immediate court order being made when it was revealed that while Ms Starr was present, her co-accused was not.

“They (women) would both need to be here,” the judge said.

She remanded both on continuing bail to Mullingar District Court on November 27.