Woman (32) 'blinded' her ex-friend in alleged ammonia attack, court hears

Tom Tuite

A 32-year-old Dublin woman has been accused of carrying out an ammonia attack that left a former friend temporarily "blinded" before she was punched in the face.

Mother of three, Kelly Swaine, also known as Mulvey, from the Pearse House area in Dublin 2, but lately of no fixed abode, was refused bail.

She was charged with assault causing harm, theft and a weapons offence for producing an article during a dispute on June 16th at Pearse House.

She denies the charges.

At Dublin District Court, Judge Karen Dowling was told the woman "suffered the loss of her vision for several minutes due to the ammonia being thrown into her face, burn marks to her neck and she suffered bruising and profuse bleeding from her nose".

Garda Shane McConkey objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offences, which, on conviction, carry five- and 10-year sentences.

The court heard that an investigation file will be prepared promptly for the Director of Public Prosecutions, with strong recommendations that it proceed on indictment.

McConkey alleged that at about 4pm on Tuesday, a dispute occurred in a flat at Pearse House, Dublin 2, which turned physical when the accused and a male were asked to vacate the premises, and were no longer welcome there.

It was contended that the male began shouting at and threatening the injured party, a woman known to the accused.

She did not live at that address, but it was her partner's home.

McConkey claimed that Kelly Swaine then produced a bottle of household ammonia and threw the contents of it into the woman's face.

"Blinded," she fell back onto a couch, and the male began kicking her in the legs continuously and began trying to pull her mobile phone out of her hand, the court heard.

Following a short struggle, the male took the woman's phone and immediately handed it to Kelly Swaine, the garda stated.

The injured party's "vision began to come back, and she was able to get out of the flat".

She fled up the stairs to her elderly father's home. However, she stopped when she heard Kelly Swaine pursuing her and threatening her, the court heard.

The garda said the injured woman did not want to bring trouble to her father's door, so she turned around and began descending the stairs.

It was alleged that she was confronted by Kelly Swaine, who immediately punched her in the nose, which began bleeding profusely.

The court heard she ran back into the flat, closed the front door and fled into the sitting room, where she barricaded herself in, using a couch.

It was alleged that the accused tried but failed to force entry to the room and that she continually threatened to kill the woman.

The contested bail hearing was told that the complainant found an old mobile phone and was able to call 999, at which point the accused was said to have left the flat.

The judge also noted concerns about witness interference for the complainant, who lives close to the area where the accused grew up.

The court heard they knew each other and had been friends before.

The garda agreed with defence solicitor Niall O'Connor that the accused made denials when questioned and that she could face a lengthy remand in custody if the case, as expected, is sent to the Circuit Court.

He also accepted that the alleged victim had not attended the bail hearing.

O'Connor said his client could now provide an address, had family support, and would comply with the conditions.

Judge Dowling emphasised that the accused enjoyed the presumption of innocence, but held that the garda had established grounds to oppose bail.

Legal aid was granted to Ms Swaine, who was remanded in custody, with an order that she receive medical attention.

Directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions are awaited. The accused will appear again on June 24th.