Woman punched 'for being an influencer' while taking selfies on a night out reveals 'sick' messages she receives from men telling her she 'deserved it'
An Irish Influencer who was attacked by a man who had been repeatedly messaging her on social media revealed men still message to say 'he should have hit you harder'.
Charleen Murphy, 26, from Dublin, was 'punched full force' from behind, 'so hard that her drinking glass on the table smashed into her head', leaving her with 'blood soaked hair and a two-inch gash that required stitches'.
Craig O'Brien, 30, from Ballyfermot, who followed Charleen on social media but was otherwise a total stranger, had insisted influencers were 'ganging up on him', calling Charleen a 'dumb b***h' who 'probably deserved it'.
Judge Orla Crowe sentenced O'Brien, who is understood to have suffered drug issues and psychosis, to two years and three months. The final nine months will be suspended for 18 months.
Now two years after the terrifying attack the influencer, who has more than 317,000 followers on Instagram, has opened up about the night and says there is a wider issue of 'misogyny and online abuse' that needs to be addressed.
Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTÉ on Prime Time, she said: 'I was sitting in a restaurant with my friend and all of a sudden I just felt this blow to the back of my head.
'Initially I didn't know what it was, my head basically went so full force forward into my glass that the glass completely shattered and left me with a cut in my hairline.
'I looked to my left and I could see him standing there. Straight away, I knew who it was. He had been messaging in the past online.
'My friend rang an ambulance and we went straight to St James's Hospital where I got stitches. He was able to walk out of the restaurant and was called into the gardaí station later on that night.'
The content creator revealed the attack was part of a larger pattern of online abuse that she has encountered over years.
'There are men that still comment on my profile to say 'he should have hit you harder' or 'he should hit you again', how can someone be so sick and have that mindset.'
Charleen spoke about the impact that attack and online abuse had on her mental health.
She added: 'It was a really scary time, to not feel safe anywhere.'
The influencer said growing negative masculinity online is leading to misogyny and male violence against women.
'Kids these days are much younger online, when I was younger it wouldn't have started until much later, their brains are being shaped and moulded at such a young age.
'There are these toxic masculinity figures, these grown men like Andrew Tate, and these kids are listening to that and they are seeing comments and they are reading that thinking this is ok.
Craig O'Brien, 30, from Ballyfermot, who followed Charleen on social media but was otherwise a total stranger, had insisted influencers were 'ganging up on him', calling Charleen a 'dumb b***h' who 'probably deserved it'
'All the little things turn into the big things, they build up.'
Charleen revealed men would message to flirt with her and if she didn't reply she would be branded a s*** by them.
'They would say something nasty because they were annoyed you didn't give them the attention. It's scary, I'm scared for the younger generation.'
In 2023, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard how O'Brien pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the social media star.
Podcast presenter Charleen was enjoying an evening at the Grafton Capital Hotel in Dublin, which she had posted about online, before she was suddenly struck by O'Brien, who followed her on social media.
She later said of the attack: 'Unfortunately there remains a very dark side to social media that I have become a victim of in a way I could never have imagined.'
Judge Orla Crowe remarked on the 'absolutely shocking footage that came out of nowhere' as CCTV evidence was shown to the court.
'Ms Murphy had no way of protecting herself as she was hit from behind,' she added.
Charleen saw O'Brien - whom she had never met in person but had known of - as she turned around and he was walking away from her.
As she was bleeding, an ambulance and gardaí were called.
The Irish Examiner also reported that O'Brien later voice-noted Charleen to ask: 'How's the head?'
She could identify her attacker when speaking to the authorities and soon, a search warrant was issued for O'Brien's home. There, police found a jacket which matched the one worn in CCTV footage provided by the hotel.
During his gardaí interview, O'Brien also reportedly claimed that influencers were 'harassing' him, calling Charleen a 'dumb b***h' who 'probably deserved it', although he 'felt bad for her'.
Judge Crowe told the court that the pair has no history between them, calling the attack 'unprovoked and unwarranted'.
Miska Hanahoe, defending, said that her client came to the station as soon as he was contacted.
She added that O'Brien was apologetic and insists he doesn't pose a current danger to Charleen.
Ms Hanahoe also expressed that her client has a problem with aggression, which is linked to drugs that he began taking aged 14.
Breakingnews.ie added that, according to the defence, O'Brien was 'drug-induced psychosis and genuinely believed that social media influencers were out to get him'.
The outlet also reported that the attacker has been engaging with a drug counsellor while in custody.
He told the court, in a letter, that he is 'really sorry' and 'regrets what he did', stating that he wasn't taking medication when the incident took place.
According to Breakingnews.ie, O'Brien has ten prior convictions, two of which are for assault.
Judge Crowe sentenced him to two years and three months. The final nine months will be suspended for 18 months.
O'Brien was ordered to unfollow Charleen on all social media, and not to attempt contact with her again. For five years after his release, he is also not allowed to come within 50 metres of her.
At the time of his sentencing, Charleen thanked her Instagram followers for their 'continued love and support' during the ordeal.
Posting a photo of herself in hospital on the night of the attack, she wrote: 'Today I finally got some justice for the attack I was subjected to in February of this year.
'The night in question was supposed to be a fun catch up with an old friend for dinner and drinks in a restaurant. However an individual sought out my location to cause me harm.
'I say some justice because to me, 18 months won't ever amount to the damage that was done & how it affected and still affects me today.'
She recounted the horrific attack and the injuries which resulted.
'From these photos you can see how my night started and how it ended with blood soaked hair and a two-inch gash that required stitches,' she said.
'There is a physical scar left but the emotional scar will take far longer to heal.
'Over the past few months it may have seemed that life still goes on but behind the scenes I have been in & out of court including taking to the stand the morning after the attack and truly struggled to deal with it all.'
Charleen then revealed how she took the stand to 'acknowledge how this attack has impacted her life' - but 'wanted to also mention that this isn't just about her'.
'It affects women everywhere,' she penned.
'And particularly in Ireland and sadly adds another setting onto the list of places where we just aren't safe. I hope no other online creator will ever go through what I have gone through but more importantly no other woman!
'Thank you for all of your continued love and support, it is such a blessing and I look forward to moving on with my life and I hope that I can make something positive come from an awful situation.'
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