Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 10730Assault causing harm; violent disorder; trespass · Co. Limerick · 10 Dec 2019

Four women jailed for knifing and beating Limerick grandmother in Rathkeale

On 10 December 2019, Christina McCarthy, a 61-year-old grandmother, was attacked by a group of women in the bedroom of her home at Rathkeale, Co Limerick. Her attackers were Nora "Josie" Harty, 58, Mary Ellen Daly, 35, Christina Casey, 48, and Rita Johnson, 51, and Harty is a first cousin of the victim. Harty and Daly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm while in possession of knives, Casey pleaded guilty to violent disorder while in possession of a baseball bat, and Johnson pleaded guilty to trespass. Harty and Daly were each jailed for three and a half years with the final year suspended, and Casey for 28 months with the final ten months suspended. A report published on 1 March 2026 said all four women were jailed, though the report does not give Johnson's sentence length.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Christina McCarthy, 61, was set upon by a group of women in the bedroom of her home.
  • The suspects are Nora "Josie" Harty, 58, Mary Ellen Daly, 35, Christina Casey, 48, and Rita Johnson, 51.
Where
The attack took place in the bedroom of Christina McCarthy's home at Rathkeale, Co Limerick.
When
The attack happened on 10 December 2019.
Other details
  • Nora Harty is a first cousin of the victim.
  • Harty said the victim would be cut up and killed, and Daly said she was cutting the victim up and killing her.
  • The victim was treated at University Hospital Limerick for slash wounds to her face, a thumb and an index finger, and had several surgeries.
  • In her victim impact statement the victim said her face and hands were destroyed, the pain never goes away from her hand, and she continues to suffer anxiety, panic attacks and fear of another attack.
Cause
A day before the attack, there was an altercation outside a shopping centre between the victim, her daughter, Mary Ellen Daly and another woman.
Weapon
The women knifed the victim in the face and beat her with sticks.
Investigation
An independent witness saw the four defendants leaving the victim's home, and the victim told gardaí she thought she was going to die as Harty and Daly slashed her face.
Charges
Harty and Daly pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim causing harm while in possession of knives, Casey pleaded guilty to violent disorder while in possession of a baseball bat, and Johnson pleaded guilty to trespassing at the victim's home.
In court
  • The four women also denied being at the victim's home on the day of the attack, according to the court report.
  • Defence barristers said their clients were remorseful and apologetic and had positive reports from the Probation Service and Tipperary Rural Travellers Project.
Sentence
Harty and Daly were each jailed for three and a half years with the final year suspended, Casey was jailed for 28 months with the final ten months suspended, and Johnson was also jailed, with her sentence length not given.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatChristina McCarthy was set upon by a group of women in the bedroom of her home. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHarty said the victim would be cut up and killed. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDaly said she was cutting the victim up and killing her. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place in the bedroom of Christina McCarthy's home at Rathkeale, Co Limerick. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe attack happened on 10 December 2019. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe women knifed the victim in the face and beat her with sticks. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHarty and Daly pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim causing harm while in possession of knives. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeCasey pleaded guilty to violent disorder while in possession of a baseball bat. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeJohnson pleaded guilty to trespassing at the victim's home. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHarty, Daly, Casey and Johnson all denied being at the victim's home on the day of the attack. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDefence barristers said their clients were remorseful and apologetic and had positive reports from the Probation Service and Tipperary Rural Travellers Project. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHarty and Daly were each jailed for three and a half years with the final year suspended. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceCasey was jailed for 28 months with the final ten months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherNora Harty is a first cousin of the victim. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThere was an altercation between the victim, her daughter and Mary Ellen Daly and another woman outside a shopping centre a day before the attack. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe victim told gardaí she thought she was going to die as Harty and Daly slashed her face. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAn independent witness saw the four defendants leaving the victim's home. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe victim was treated at University Hospital Limerick for slash wounds to her face, a thumb and an index finger, and had several surgeries. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherIn her victim impact statement the victim said her face and hands were destroyed and the pain never goes away from her hand. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe victim said she continues to suffer anxiety, panic attacks and fear of another attack. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Mar2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    'We’re cutting you up': Four women jailed for beating and knifing Limerick grandmother

    Sentencing report for the Rathkeale attack, with the sentences for all four defendants, the injuries, the victim impact statement and the judge's remarks.

    victim, Christina McCarthy, 61, female, irish (judged from name)Christina McCarthyconvicted, Nora “Josie” Harty, 58, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nora “Josie” Hartyconvicted, Mary Ellen Daly, 35, female, named, irish (judged from name)Mary Ellen Dalyconvicted, Christina Casey, 48, female, named, irish (judged from name)Christina Caseyconvicted, Rita Johnson, 51, female, named, irish (judged from name)Rita Johnson