Donegal woman who smashed bottle over ex's head had been ‘pushed too far'
Fiona McInerney appeared at Letterkenny District Court after smashing a glass bottle over the man's head.
A Co Donegal woman who smashed a bottle over her partner's head after she became fed-up with his drinking habits has been ordered to enter a peace bond.
Fiona McInerney attacked her former partner after she was 'pushed to her wits end.'
Ms McInerney, appeared at Letterkenny District Court after smashing a glass bottle over the man's head after a verbal altercation on March 5th, 2023.
The court was told that the injured party suffered cuts to his head and shoulder following the attack at Robinson Hall, Port Road, Letterkenny.
The accused, who was present in court, has no previous convictions.
Fiona McInerney. Photo: Newspix
News in 90 Seconds - May 16th
The woman's solicitor, Mr Frank Murphy, said it was a case that the woman had simply 'been pushed too far' and that she was otherwise of good character.
He said that on the night in question the victim had again consumed a large quantity of alcohol.
'She (Ms McInerny) was simply pushed too far. She was at her wits end and had lost it and struck him with a bottle,' said Mr Murphy.
Ms McInerney, aged 40, was charged with a Section 3 assault of the injured party.
A further charge of Production of Article under Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act was struck out.
The court was told that the couple were no longer in a relationship and were living at separate locations.
Judge Eiteain Cunningham canvassed for a victim impact statement but was later told there was no statement forthcoming.
Passing sentence, Judge Cunningham said she had considered the matter in detail as the accused had no previous convictions, that she had entered a plea to the charge and had also considered the mitigation offer by solicitor Mr Murphy.
She added that she was also aware that the couple were no longer in a relationship and that there were other orders in place.
However, she stressed to the court that this was still a very serious matter and the fact remained that it was a Section 3 assault.
She said she planned to deal with the matter by ordering Ms McInerney to sign a peace bond for a 12 month period and warned her that she would be brought before the court again if this bond is breached.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
48 people arrested, 4 tonnes of cocaine seized as part of Spanish drugs investigation
The gang are accused of smuggling cocaine from South America using a 'sophisticated maritime infrastructure'. Almost 4 tonnes of cocaine were seized 48 people have been arrested as part of a major operation against the largest drug trafficking gang in the Canaries. 29 homes were searched across the Canary Islands, with 3.8 tonnes of cocaine seized. 6 properties, 69 vehicles, including 19 boats and speedboats, and €100,000 in cash were seized. Almost 4 tonnes of cocaine were seized News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 The operation came following months of investigation into the network, who introduced cocaine from South America to the European Union by using a 'sophisticated maritime infrastructure'. The gang owned 11 speedboats that were used repeatedly, departing from strategic points in the Atlantic Ocean to a mother ship transporting the cocaine. After loading the drugs onto the speedboats, the suspects dropped them off in the Canary Islands, ready for distribution. The gang used satellite terminals, hard-to-trace phones and a coded language to as part of a 'complex' encrypted communications system to evade police. The investigation was carried out by police from Portugal, Colombia, the UK and the USA. Europol also assisted in the investigation, providing analytical and financial support.
Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
Irish woman who accused Madeleine McCann suspect of rape says he could've been stopped
Hazel Behan accused Christian Brueckner of raping her at her home in Portugal three years before the tot vanished An Irish woman who accused Madeleine McCann's suspected killer of rape has says he could of been stopped. Hazel Behan accused Christian Brueckner of raping her at her home in Portugal in 2004. He went on trial in 2020, accused of raping the Dublin woman and a number of other women, but was aquitted. She has now said he could have been stopped from attacking other women, and potentially kidnapping and murdering the British tot in 2007. 'I feel that those who were in a position and mandated a position to protect and serve and do their job didn't,' Behan told The State of Us Podcast hosts Tara Mills and Declan Harvey. Hazel Behan at home in Mullingar. Photo: Steve Humphreys 'It also places a huge amount of guilt in me because even though I know I couldn't have done anything more… it doesn't stop the guilt that I have. 'If I had shouted louder, that if I had made more of a fuss at the time, all of these things may not have happened to other people,' she confessed. 'I carry that because of them not doing their job, and that really, really upsets me. 'Like to a point that I feel that they need to be called out for that. 'I don't think all these years later I should be doing all, having to go through all this again because of the ineptitude of a police force.' 'There's people like me and other victims who believe they're victims of Christian Bruckner who have suffered as a result.' It comes as German police began fresh searches in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in connection with the disappearance of 3-year-old Madeline McCann. Search teams investigating Madeleine McCann's disappearance use a digger next to a derelict property close to Praia De Luz, Portugal. Photo: PA The search was reportedly prompted by the discovery of disturbing new evidence found on a hard drive hidden in Brueckner's 'secret lair'. Cops discovered a hard drive containing pictures at a disused factory in Neuwegersleben, Germany, which was purchased by Bruckner in 2008, just one year after the toddler vanished. Details of the find were reported by The Sun and Channel 4. The files were uncovered in 2016 when a dog ran onto the property and appeared to find a grave. When authorities dug, they discovered a deceased dog lying on top of a wallet containing six USB sticks and two memory cards, which reportedly contained disturbing materials. Following this, 100 cops launched a full-scale search, finding children's clothes and toys, as well as masks, chemicals and three black market guns. The sinister items also included stories allegedly written by the German national, one of which detailed the abuse of a four-year-old blonde girl. Missing Madeleine McCann and suspect Christian Brueckner News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 Child abuse images, records of Skype conversations with paedophiles and 75 children's swimming costumes were also found, as well as a metal case of photographs depicting girls believed to be aged four and five. In 2020, Brueckner went on trial accused of five separate counts of rape and sexual assault which prosecutors allege he committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. One of these charges related to the alleged rape of Westmeath woman Hazel Behan after he broke into her apartment via the balcony while she was sleeping. A court heard that she was raped by him in June 2004 while working as a holiday rep in Portugal. He was acquitted of all charges, but the Irish woman has now lodged an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) alleging inaction by Portuguese police in identifying and prosecuting Brueckner for her rape. Cops trying to find evidence of Brueckner's involvement in McCann's disappearance are in a race against time as he is expected to be released from prison in later this year. The German is serving time behind bars for the rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz in 2005. Madeline McCann vanished from her family's holiday rental in Praia da Luz two years later in May 2007. Madeleine McCann has been missing since 2007 The tot slept in a bedroom with her two younger twin siblings as their parents dined at a nearby restaurant with their friends. When Madeline's mother, Kate, checked on her children at around 10 pm, Maddie was not there, and the alarm was raised. The case of the missing girl captivated the world, and continues to do so as no trace of the 3-year-old has ever been found, despite an international manhunt to find her. No one has ever been charged in connection with her disappearance. If you've been effected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact the Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 77 8888.
Sunday World
9 hours ago
- Sunday World
Jury selection begins in rape trial of Irish firefighter Terence Crosbie
He is accused of raping a woman as she slept at a hotel in Boston last year Jury selection has begun in the rape trial of Irish firefighter Terence Crosbie. It's alleged he raped a woman at a Boston hotel during St. Patrick's Day weekend celebrations in the city last year. Witnesses from Ireland are expected to be called to give evidence at the trial at Suffolk Superior Court when it gets underway. Opening statements in the trial of the married father are expected to begin within the next week. He's been held at Nashua Street jail in Boston since his arrested last year. The 38-year-old from Dublin was detained at Boston Logan International Airport as he attempted to fly back to Ireland a day early after speaking to cops. A Boston Police Department photo of Terence Crosbie News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 He was charged on March 18 with the alleged rape of a woman at Omni Parker House, on March 14th and pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege he raped the 'female stranger' as she slept during a visit to Boston with members of the Dublin Fire Brigade. The woman (28) said she went to the Black Rose Irish Pub with her co-workers when she met an Irish man and his colleagues. Video allegedly shows the woman leaving the restaurant with the man at around 11.30pm, and returning to the hotel room he was sharing with Crosbie at the hotel. The man and the woman had a 'consensual encounter' before falling asleep in separate beds. She said she awoke to Crosbie on top of her, raping her. Court records state that she demanded he stop, but in response Crosbie allegedly said that he 'knew she wanted it', and called his friend 'pathetic' for falling asleep. The woman left the hotel and messaged a friend to say she had been assaulted. She went to hospital where she spoke to cops and underwent a sexual assault examination. In August, prosecutors requested a DNA swab from Crosbie for comparative testing after a rape kit from the woman found male DNA. Terence Crosbie at a previous court hearing 'A known DNA sample from the defendant will produce evidence relevant to the question of his guilt,' Assistant District Attorney Erin Murphy said. According to court documents, Crosbie objected to providing a sample on 'grounds of unreasonable searches and seizures.' In an interview with police, Crosbie denied the rape. He told police he climbed into bed not knowing she was even there, but he heard her gather her clothes and leave the room. His lawyer. Daniel C. Reilly said that his client was 'not concerned about what the DNA is going to return or say,' adding that 'he is adamant that he had no physical contact with her.' At a previous hearing, lawyers representing the Dublin Fire Brigade firefighter said he will 'do everything' to clear his name. 'I can tell you right now, he is going to fight and clear his name and do everything that he can to address these charges and maintain his innocence,' Boston attorney Brad Bailey told Boston 25 News Reporter Bob Ward. 'This is a man, Bob, who has never been in trouble before. Has no prior record, has never been in jail. Here he is, in a jail cell with no ability to make bail, really in a situation that is arguably punitive for somebody who has the presumption of innocence,' Bailey said. Dublin firefighter Terence Crosbie Crosbie was placed on leave by Dublin Fire Brigade. In a statement, his employer said: "Dublin Fire Brigade chief fire officer has been made aware that the Boston Police Department have begun a criminal investigation into an alleged serious case involving a member of Dublin Fire Brigade. "The firefighter has immediately been placed on leave. We cannot comment on the specific circumstances but we would reiterate the high standards that we expect from all who represent our organisation at any event. "As a result, we are conducting an internal investigation and establishing the facts in collaboration with the appropriate authorities and the organisers of the delegation. As this is a criminal investigation, we will not be making any further comment at this time." If you've been effected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact the Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 77 8888.
