Wednesday 28 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. 4032Assault causing harm, violent disorder, trespassing · Co. Limerick · 10 Dec 2019

Grandmother knifed in face and beaten with sticks by group of women in Rathkeale, Co Limerick

Christina McCarthy, 61, was knifed in the face and beaten with sticks by a group of women at her home in Rathkeale, Co Limerick, on 10 December 2019. Four women pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, violent disorder and trespassing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court and were remanded on bail for sentence in March 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court22 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe victim was knifed in the face and beaten with sticks by a group of women at her home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim dived under her bed to escape the assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was left with permanent disfiguring scarring to her face. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim told gardaí she woke in her bedroom surrounded by at least eight women. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA day before the attack, the victim and her daughter were involved in an altercation with Ms Daly and another woman outside a shopping centre. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment of slash wounds to her face, a thumb and an index finger. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim underwent a number of surgeries. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim continues to suffer with anxiety and panic attacks. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe attack occurred on 10 December 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponMs Harty and Ms Daly attacked the victim with knives, and Ms Casey was armed with a baseball bat. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge remanded the four accused on bail for sentence in March. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPositive reports by the Probation Service and Tipperary Rural Travellers Project were provided in mitigation. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Grandmother knifed in face and beaten with sticks by group of women, court told

    Reports the guilty pleas of four women and the court's decision to remand them on bail for sentence in March 2026, with details of the attack and the victim's injuries.

    victim, Christina McCarthy, 61, female, irish (judged from name)Christina McCarthyconvicted, 58, female, irish (judged from name)convicted, 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