Woman who went on ‘rampage’ of ‘unprovoked, savage assaults’ spared jail

A woman who went on an “absolutely chaotic rampage” that involved the savage assaults of four random women in the streets of Mullingar has been spared jail because she has “embraced the road to rehabilitation”.

Caitlin Bardon (25), with an address at Dalton Park, Mullingar, County Westmeath, appeared before Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Court, who remarked that she had taken control of her life for herself and her children.

A positive probation report outlined her efforts to become drug-free, accept offered support and secure employment.

Ms Bardon was charged with assaulting four women who were going about their business in Mullingar in May 2024. A total of five charges were brought against her – three for section 3 assault causing harm, one for section 2 assault and another for section 6 public order. Guilty pleas were entered on all charges in November of last year.

The court previously heard how, on May 8, 2024, at approximately 2pm, gardaí were made aware of a number of incidents in various locations around Mullingar.

The first of those incidents occurred on Dominick Street, when a mother was exiting a café after buying a babycino for her three-year-old son and was punched to the right side of her head by Ms Bardon.

From there, Ms Bardon moved to Castle Street, where another woman noticed her in an agitated state, arguing with a male. Ms Bardon began shouting at the woman: “you’re a tramp, you’re a whore, I’m going to tear you”, prompting the woman to go into a clothing store.

The accused followed her, continuing to shout at her, and staff members came to the woman’s side. Ms Bardon left the store and the woman saw her cross the road and hit another woman.

That woman had left work to get a prescription for her mother when, on the way back, the accused came and punched her in the head in a “totally unprovoked” attack.

Ms Bardon then moved on to Harbour Street, where another woman noticed a male and female “screaming at each other” and banging on a window as they argued.

The woman continued walking and then felt someone grab the bun of her hair and drag her to the ground. She looked up and saw Ms Bardon standing over her, screaming. The woman suffered pain to her lower back, arms and her head, and attended the hospital emergency department for treatment.

The final assault took place in a Tesco store, where another woman was carrying a basket of groceries at 1.30pm. She was making her way to the till when she was approached by Ms Bardon who said, “I’ll show you, I’ll show you”, and pushed her hard, causing her to land on her back and hit her head on the floor.

The accused continued to grab her and push her, and took her keys and phone. The woman managed to grab those back but Ms Bardon again pushed her to the ground and screamed at her.

The woman suffered pain to her head and face following the assault. The left side of her face suffered some swelling and the left side of her head was tender.

Ms Bardon remained “highly aggressive” when arrested and, when questioned by gardaí, said she had taken six or seven Tramaz tablets that morning.

At the sentence hearing in March of last year, Judge Johnson said that Ms Bardon had gone on “a chaotic rampage, which involved a series of unprovoked and seriously violent attacks”.

“This is extremely serious and it’s just not acceptable in civilised society. It’s not going to be tolerated. This is a series of offences that warrants an immediate custodial sentence,” he said, adding that he would be “failing” in his duties if he did not follow through with a custodial sentence.

The case was adjourned a number of times to allow Ms Bardon to engage with various services, which she did, resulting in a positive probation report before the court.

Judge Johnson proceeded to sentence her to three years in prison, which he suspended for five years subject to a number of conditions, including that she does not re-offend, that she continue to refrain from alcohol and drug consumption, and that she submit herself to urine analysis for the next 18 months.

She is also to maintain her employment and engage with therapeutic support to address her mental health and substance misuse issues.

Supported by the Courts Reporting Scheme