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. 10691Assault causing serious harm · Co. Tipperary

Woman and teenage girl charged over assault on Scarlett Faulkner near Birdhill, Tipperary

On the evening of 21 March 2026, at about 5pm, Scarlett Faulkner was allegedly assaulted on the R494 road near Birdhill, Co Tipperary, between the M7 motorway and Killaloe, and was airlifted to hospital in critical condition. A woman in her 40s and a teenage girl were arrested on Thursday morning in connection with the incident. The girl is charged with one count of assault causing serious harm to Ms Faulkner, and the woman with four offences, including violent disorder, reckless endangerment and burglary, which are allegations. Judge Carol Anne Coolican refused bail to both and ordered reporting restrictions; the girl was remanded to a youth detention facility and the woman to a remand prison, with the next hearing by video link before Tipperary District Court on 1 April.

  1. Reported1 Mar
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Scarlett Faulkner was allegedly assaulted by a woman and a teenage girl, and was airlifted to hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
  • The girl is alleged to have struck Ms Faulkner eleven times on the head with an iron bar, but told gardaí in interview that she followed Ms Faulkner and hit her with a pole.
  • Ms Faulkner is described as a mother of one from Co Limerick, and as a woman in her 20s from Limerick city.
Where
Ms Faulkner was found at the side of the R494 road just outside Birdhill, Co Tipperary, between the M7 motorway and Killaloe.
When
The incident happened on the evening of Saturday 21 March 2026, at about 5pm, and Ms Faulkner was found by gardaí that day.
Cause
  • Gardaí allege the woman rammed the van carrying Ms Faulkner, forcing it to stop, and that the adult accused had been searching for her for 24 hours before the attack.
  • Gardaí allege the adult accused burgled and smashed up a caravan before the attack, and are working on several theories about the background of the assault.
Investigation
  • The woman and the girl were arrested on Thursday morning in connection with the incident, and gardaí say dash cam and CCTV footage supports their evidence.
  • Gardaí have appealed for witnesses, are seeking information on a grey Ford Transit van and a blue Volkswagen Touran, and have asked the public not to share video of the incident circulating online.
Charges
  • The girl is charged with one count of assault causing serious harm to Ms Faulkner, and the woman with four offences arising from the alleged assault, including violent disorder, reckless endangerment and burglary.
  • Neither accused replied to the charges when they were put to them.
In court
Judge Carol Anne Coolican ordered reporting restrictions for both accused and refused them bail.
Sentence
The girl was remanded to a youth detention facility and the woman to a remand prison, with a video-link appearance before Tipperary District Court set for 1 April.
29 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe girl allegedly struck Ms Faulkner eleven times on the head with an iron bar. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe woman was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after an assault involving multiple people on a roadway in Tipperary. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe victim is a woman in her 20s from Limerick city. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereMs Faulkner was found at the side of the R494 road just outside the village of Birdhill, Co Tipperary. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened near Birdhill in Co Tipperary, between the M7 motorway and Killaloe. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenMs Faulkner was found by gardaí on Saturday, 21 March. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on the evening of 21 March 2026, at about 5pm. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeGardaí allege the woman rammed the van carrying Ms Faulkner, forcing it to stop. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeGardaí allege the adult accused had been searching for Ms Faulkner for 24 hours before the attack. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeGardaí were working on several theories about the background of the assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe weapon alleged to have been used was an iron bar. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe woman was reportedly beaten with weapons. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí say dash cam and CCTV footage supports their evidence. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe woman and the girl were arrested on Thursday morning in connection with the incident in Co Tipperary. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe girl allegedly told gardaí in interview that she followed Ms Faulkner and hit her with a pole. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA forensic examination was carried out at the scene on the R494 near Birdhill. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have appealed for witnesses to come forward. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are seeking information on the movements of a grey Ford Transit van and a blue Volkswagen Touran people carrier. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are aware of video footage of the incident circulating online and have asked the public not to share it. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe girl is charged with one count of assault causing serious harm to Ms Faulkner. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe woman is charged with four offences arising from the alleged assault, including violent disorder, reckless endangerment and burglary. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeNeither accused replied to the charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Carol Anne Coolican ordered reporting restrictions for both accused. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Coolican refused bail for both accused. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe girl was remanded to a youth detention facility and the woman to a remand prison, with a video-link appearance before Tipperary District Court on 1 April. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherGardaí allege the adult accused burgled and smashed up a caravan before the attack. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMs Faulkner was airlifted from the scene to University Hospital Limerick and later transferred to Cork University Hospital. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMs Faulkner remained in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe woman was transferred from University Hospital Limerick to Cork University Hospital with serious head injuries. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Mar2026
    Reportedthejournal.ie, first report
    Woman in critical condition after attack on Tipperary roadway

    Adds the location between the M7 and Killaloe, the victim's age range and home city, the weapons reportedly used, the theories gardaí are examining, the vehicles sought, the forensic examination, the transfer to Cork University Hospital, and the circulation of video online. Reports no arrests.

    victim, 20s, femalesuspectsuspect
  2. 1 Mar2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Woman and teenage girl charged over assault on Scarlett Faulkner

    First report of the charges. Adds the alleged attack details, the charges against each accused, the bail refusal and remand, and the garda evidence presented at the sitting.

    victim, Scarlett Faulkner, late 20s, female, irish (judged from name)Scarlett Faulkneraccused, 40s, femaleaccused, 16, female