'Lynch mob' came from Dublin to carry out attack in Mayo

A "lynch mob" travelled from Dublin to Ballinrobe to carry out an attack in Mayo, a court has heard. 

Jasmine Dunne, aged 27, of 22 Eton Close, Rathcoole, Dublin, appeared before Judge Ciarán Liddy at Castlebar District Court charged with criminal damage and no insurance arising from an incident at the Bog Road, Ballinrobe on September 1 last year.

Garda Colin Murray told the court there had been an ongoing feud in Ballinrobe involving cars being damaged by both groups.

In the early hours of Monday, September 1, 2025, Dunne was one of three people who travelled from Dublin to Ballinrobe. The defendant was the owner of the vehicle used.

Garda Murray said the principal offender was a co-accused, who was recently charged before the courts. She was the one who caused damage to a Ford Focus by smashing the rear window.

Dunne was not involved in the physical act of criminal damage.

The insurance charge arose because another party drove Dunne's vehicle to the scene, and that person was a disqualified driver, which invalidated the insurance on the vehicle.

Solicitor Gary Mulchrone said his client's father had been killed tragically when she was young and there had been significant disharmony in her household.

Dunne had gone along with others she had been keeping company with at the time and had not anticipated the full extent of what she was getting involved in. She had withdrawn from active participation when the situation escalated. 

He said the group had at one point fallen into a river, effectively becoming injured parties themselves and calling gardaí for assistance.

Mr Mulchrone said the mother-of one had since been diagnosed with PTSD and is now in the process of training to become a carer. He asked the court to consider her involvement as one of recklessness rather than active criminality and to deal with her as leniently as possible.

Mr Mulchrone confirmed the damage was valued at €350, relating to the replacement of the rear windscreen. He also clarified that his client had only three previous minor convictions - a public order offence and a loss by deception conviction at Blanchardstown District Court in 2025 - and that the more extensive record belonged to the older co-accused.

Judge Liddy noted that Dunne had been before the court only three months prior to this offence. He described the group as a "lynch mob" that had travelled from Dublin, facilitated by Dunne as the owner of the vehicle. 

The judge said the matter required a custodial sentence in the first instance but acknowledged she was very young to have convictions of this nature. He imposed a six-month prison sentence for criminal damage, suspended for one year. He also imposed a fine of €100 for driving without insurance.

Legal aid was granted.

• Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.