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. 10612Assault causing harm; violent disorder · Co. Limerick · 10 Dec 2019

Four women sentenced over 2019 knife attack at Rathkeale home

On 10 December 2019, Christina McCarthy nee Harty, a 61-year-old grandmother, was attacked by a group of women in her bedroom at her home in Rathkeale, County Limerick, and was slashed on the face and hand. The attack followed a physical altercation the day before outside Dunnes Stores in Limerick city. Nora "Josie" Harty (58), Mary Ellen Daly (35), Christina Casey (48) and Rita Johnson (51) were charged, and at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court Harty and Daly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm while in possession of knives, Casey to violent disorder while in possession of a baseball bat, and Johnson to trespassing. Harty and Daly were each jailed for three and a half years with the final year suspended, Casey for 28 months with the final ten months suspended, and Johnson was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service in lieu of six months imprisonment, with the sentences reported on 4 March 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced4 Mar
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Christina McCarthy nee Harty, a 61-year-old grandmother, was attacked by a group of women in her bedroom.
  • She suffered slash wounds to her cheek, thumb and index finger, underwent a number of operations, and was left with permanent disfiguring facial scarring.
  • Nora "Josie" Harty and Mary Ellen Daly slashed Ms McCarthy's face, and Ms Harty told her they were cutting her up and killing her.
  • Ms McCarthy escaped by crawling underneath her bed.
Where
The attack took place in Ms McCarthy's bedroom at her home in Rathkeale, County Limerick.
When
The attack took place on 10 December 2019.
Cause
The day before the attack, Ms McCarthy and her daughter had a physical altercation with Mary Ellen Daly and another woman outside Dunnes Stores in Limerick city.
Weapon
Nora Harty and Mary Ellen Daly had knives and Christina Casey had a baseball bat; one account says the victim was beaten with sticks.
Investigation
Nora "Josie" Harty (58) and Mary Ellen Daly (35), both of Lisheen Park, Patrickswell, along with Christina Casey (48) and Rita Johnson (51), were charged over the incident.
Charges
Nora Harty and Mary Ellen Daly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm while in possession of knives, Christina Casey pleaded guilty to violent disorder while in possession of a baseball bat, and Rita Johnson pleaded guilty to trespassing at Ms McCarthy's home.
In court
The case was heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Fiona O'Sullivan described the attack as a terrifying ordeal.
Sentence
  • Nora Harty and Mary Ellen Daly were each jailed for three and a half years with the final 12 months suspended.
  • Christina Casey was jailed for 28 months (described in one account as two years and four months) with the final ten months suspended.
  • Rita Johnson agreed to complete 120 hours of community service in lieu of a six-month jail sentence.
Other details
Ms McCarthy has constant anxiety and panic attacks, is always looking over her shoulder, and said her face and hands were destroyed and the pain in her hand never goes away.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe victim was a grandmother attacked in her bedroom. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe victim suffered slash injuries to her cheek, thumb and index finger and underwent a number of operations. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe victim was left with permanent disfiguring scarring. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatMs McCarthy was left with permanent facial scarring after being attacked by a group of women in her bedroom. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatMs Harty and Ms Daly slashed Ms McCarthy's face. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatMs McCarthy escaped by crawling underneath her bed. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatMs McCarthy was treated at University Hospital Limerick for slash wounds to her face, a thumb and an index finger. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place in the victim's bedroom at her home in Rathkeale. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place at Ms McCarthy's home in Rathkeale, County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe violent incident took place on 10 December 2019. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe attack took place on 10 December 2019. (limerickpost.ie)
  • causeThe day before the attack, the victim and her daughter had a physical altercation with Mary Ellen Daly and another woman outside Dunnes Stores in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponNora Harty and Mary Ellen Daly had knives and Christina Casey had a baseball bat. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe women were in possession of knives during the attack. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeNora Harty and Mary Ellen Daly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm while in possession of knives. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeChristina Casey pleaded guilty to violent disorder while in possession of a baseball bat. (limerickleader.ie, limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeRita Johnson pleaded guilty to trespassing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeNora Harty and Mary Ellen Daly pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms McCarthy causing her harm while in possession of knives. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeRita Johnson pleaded guilty to trespassing at Ms McCarthy's home. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceNora Harty and Mary Ellen Daly were each jailed for three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended for assault causing harm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceChristina Casey was given a two-year-and-four-months prison sentence, with the final 10 months suspended for violent disorder. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceRita Johnson was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service in lieu of six months imprisonment. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceNora Harty and Mary Ellen Daly were each jailed for three and a half years with the final year suspended. (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceChristina Casey was jailed for 28 months with the final ten months suspended. (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceRita Johnson agreed to complete 120 hours of community service in lieu of a six-month jail sentence. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe victim has constant anxiety and panic attacks and is always looking over her shoulder. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherMs Harty told Ms McCarthy they were cutting her up and killing her. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherMs McCarthy said her face and hands were destroyed and the pain in her hand never goes away. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the attack as a terrifying ordeal. (limerickpost.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Mar2026
    Sentencedlimerickpost.ie, first report
    'We're cutting you up, we're killing you', knife attack victim told

    Reports the sentencing of four women at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for the December 2019 Rathkeale attack. No existing case covers this 2019 incident.

    victim, Christina McCarthy nee Harty, 61, female, irish (judged from name)Christina McCarthy nee Hartyconvicted, 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
  2. 4 Mar2026
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Wailing and crying in court amid tense scenes as three Limerick women jailed over attack on granny

    Reports the sentencing of three of four women charged over a violent incident at a Rathkeale house on 10 December 2019, including the sentences imposed and the victim's injuries and impact statement.

    convicted, 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 Johnsonvictim, 61, female