He punched me in back of the head – straight away I knew who my attacker was, says star on Dublin restaurant horror
IRISH star Charleen Murphy has recalled the moments after she was attacked in a Dublin restaurant in 2023 - revealing she instantly knew who the perpetrator was.
The social media personality was enjoying dinner with a friend when she was
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Charleen Murphy is set to appear on a special Prime Time episode tonight
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The content creator has been open about the brutal attack she suffered two years ago
Credit: Instagram / @charleenmurphy
Her attacker walked into the restaurant after tracking down her location from an
The now 26-year-old attended A&E following the attack and received stitches for a laceration in her hairline.
The man, who was later charged with assault, had sent "a lot" of messages to the influencer on Instagram prior to the unprovoked attack, and text her after the assault asking: "How's the head?"
Speaking to Prime Time,
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She told
"My head basically went so full force forward into my glass that the glass completely shattered and smashed and I got a cut in my hairline."
She continued: "I looked to my left and I could see him standing there. Straight away, I knew who it was.
"He had been messaging me in the past online."
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Opening up on the horror moment she realised she was injured the star, who has 317k Instagram followers and 281.6K
She explained: "I could feel this warmth on my face but I didn't realise what that was. My friend said, 'We need to call an ambulance.'"
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Charleen features in tonight's episode of Prime Time as a real life example of the dangers of misogyny.
The episode focuses on the impact of social media and influencers who "promote a negative form of masculinity" are having on young people, especially young boys.
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When Charleen's attacker appeared in
In November 2023, the man was jailed for the attack on Charleen Murphy.
'I'M TRYING TO BE SAFE'
The popular personality has been open online about the steps she's taken to make herself feel safe in the wake of the incident.
Charleen explained: "I've had to get security, just to feel safe and have that extra layer of security. That obviously comes at a cost. It's not cheap."
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She added: "If I'm in a restaurant or on holiday anywhere, if I'm posting, I've already actually gone from there.
"I'll put it up as if it's the moment, just to keep the continuity. But I won't actually be there anymore. You just don't know who's watching."
"I looked to my left and I could see him standing there. Straight away, I knew who it was."
Charleen Murphy
Despite the young star's harrowing ordeal, social media users have blasted her with hate for the extra measures.
The Dublin woman said: "They condemned me for my own personal safety. I'm trying to be safe. I'd rather not do it.
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"I'd rather not pay that money. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't."
'I WAS SCARED OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE'
Earlier this year, the
Posting on Instagram she said: "Today marks two years since I was attacked whilst sitting down having dinner with a friend
"February 10 will always feel heavy every year, knowing what I went through but I also feel proud of the journey I have been on
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She added: "I thought I would never feel genuinely happy again or have any feeling of safety. I wish I could go back and promise her that she will feel so much happiness again.
"For a long time I was scared of everything and everyone, things I never would've second guessed I found myself overthinking. I felt weak and it took so much pushing myself to make sure that I didn't feel like that forever."
Offering advice, the brave woman added: "For anyone going through trauma or problems of any kind who feels like they have lost themselves in the process, I promise you that you will get yourself back and you will be shining brighter than ever."
'THEY JUST HAVE NO SHAME'
However, despite bravely sharing her story and spreading a positive message online, the influencer continues to receive abusive comments from men.
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She told RTE: "People say it comes with the job. And obviously, people are allowed to give their own opinion.
"But it doesn't make it any nicer or easier and it doesn't mean they should."
Charleen added: "It's usually a fake account. Usually a man. But sometimes it's their own account and they just have no shame.
"Men try to flirt by replying to stories. If you don't reply, it's like, 'Well, you're a slut.' They say something nasty because you didn't give them attention."
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'THEY DOWNPLAY YOUR TRAUMA'
The content creator revealed she has even received online hate just for opening up about her attack.
She explained: "When I came out with the story that time, people said, 'You're not a real victim because it was only this or only that.'
"They downplay your trauma."
"You don't have to have something worse than someone else to still have gone through something bad."
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Prime Time will air on RTE One tonight at 9.35pm
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Charleen has been subject to online abuse even after the unprovoked attack
Credit: Instagram / @charleenmurphy
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She has taken extra precautions to feel safe after she was attacked
Credit: Instagram / @charleenmurphy
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