Saturday 31 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. 21143Assault · Co. Louth · 19 Apr 2022

Woman pulled another woman by the hair in Tesco Extra, Dundalk court hears

On 19 April 2022 at Tesco Extra in Louth, the court heard that a woman pulled another woman by the hair, and security had to separate the two. The defendant is Mary McAreavey, 24, of St. Oliver's Park, Kilsaran, who the court was told approached the injured party and her mother with another person while they were shopping. The case was heard at Dundalk District Court, where the defendant made admissions, CCTV corroborated events, and the defence said she had never been in court before. The article was published on 12 May 2023, after a sentencing hearing the previous week. Judge Eirinn McKiernan applied the Probation of Offenders Act and ordered the defendant to have no contact with the other woman ever again, which is the latest development.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced12 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A woman pulled another woman by the hair.
  • The defendant approached the injured party and her mother with another person.
Where
The incident happened in Tesco Extra, where the injured party and her mother were shopping.
When
The incident happened on 19 April 2022, described in the article as April 19th last year, with the year inferred from the publication date.
Cause
The defence said there was a build-up to the incident and that the defendant, who was emotional, over-reacted.
Other details
  • The two women had to be separated by security.
  • The defendant is Mary McAreavey, 24, of St. Oliver's Park, Kilsaran, described in the article as a mother of two.
  • The article was published on 12 May 2023, reporting a sentencing hearing held the previous week.
In court
  • The case was heard at Dundalk District Court before Judge Eirinn McKiernan.
  • The defendant made admissions and CCTV corroborated events.
  • The defence said the defendant had never been in court before and had no previous convictions.
  • The defence said there had been no further contact with the other parties.
Sentence
  • The judge applied the Probation of Offenders Act.
  • The judge ordered the defendant to have no contact with the other woman ever again.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA woman pulled another woman by the hair. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe injured party and her mother were shopping in Tesco Extra. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on April 19th last year. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • causeThere was a build-up to the incident. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dundalk District Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe defendant made admissions and CCTV corroborated events. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge applied the Probation of Offenders Act. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge told the defendant to have no contact with the other woman ever again. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe two women had to be separated by security. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the defendant had never been in court before. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defence said there had been no further contact with the other parties. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had no previous convictions. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 May2023
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Mother pulled other woman by the hair, Dundalk court heard

    Court report on the sentencing of the defendant. The article says the incident was on April 19th last year, so the year 2022 is inferred from the 2023 publication date.

    convicted, Mary McAreavey, 24, female, named, irish (judged from name)Mary McAreaveyvictim, female