Ireland Case No. 20952Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 27 Nov 2021
Woman sentenced for assault causing harm in Dublin
Miranda McCabe, 37, of Navan, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after she jumped from a car and headbutted, punched and put Stephanie Dunne in a headlock while Dunne stood in her porch on 27 November 2021. Dunne had just returned home from visiting her premature baby in hospital. A man was also in the car and was described as holding butcher knives; he remains before the courts. McCabe was sentenced on 24 May 2023 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended, meaning nine months to serve. The judge described the attack as planned and frightening and noted the motive was not clear.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court17 Feb
2 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced24 May
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- McCabe jumped from a car, headbutted Dunne, punched her several times and put her in a headlock while Dunne stood in her porch.
- Dunne had just returned home from visiting her premature baby in hospital.
- Where
- The assault took place at Priorswood Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin.
- When
- The attack occurred on 27 November 2021.
- Cause
- A man and a woman were sitting in a car when Dunne got out of her car, and the judge said the motive for the attack was not clear.
- Weapon
- The man in the car was described by the victim as holding butcher knives.
- Investigation
- DNA from a clump of hair pulled from McCabe by the victim matched McCabe.
- Charges
- McCabe pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Stephanie Dunne.
- In court
- Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to 12 May 2023 for a Probation Services report.
- Sentence
- McCabe was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended, meaning nine months to serve.
- Other details
- McCabe has five previous convictions and is a single mother to three children, one of whom has significant medical needs.
- A man who was in the car with McCabe remains before the courts.
41 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMiranda McCabe pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Stephanie Dunne (thejournal.ie)
- whatDunne had just returned home from the hospital after visiting her premature baby (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcCabe jumped towards Dunne, headbutted her, punched her several times and put her in a headlock (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe victim had just returned home from visiting her premature baby in hospital. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcCabe jumped towards Dunne and headbutted her while she was standing in her porch. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcCabe punched Dunne several more times and put her in a headlock. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man dragged McCabe away as they left. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcCabe jumped from the car and head-butted the victim while she stood in her porch. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcCabe punched the victim several more times and put her in a headlock. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man from the car was standing in the victim's garden wearing black, gloves and a scarf over his face. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcCabe hit the victim's son by mistake when the son opened the front door. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcCabe said This is only the start as they left. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcCabe jumped from a car and headbutted Ms Dunne, then punched her several more times and put her in a headlock. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place at Priorswood Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe assault happened at Priorswood Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attack occurred on 27 November 2021 (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe assault took place on 27 November 2021. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe assault happened on 27 November 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA man and a woman were sitting in a car when the victim got out of her car. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe judge said the motive for the attack was not clear and that there appeared to be a tenuous connection between the injured party and McCabe. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe man was also holding what the victim described as butcher knives. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA man in the garden was holding butcher knives, according to Ms Dunne. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationMcCabe made no admissions during her garda interview (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí were called and given a description of the car McCabe was travelling in. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí saw a car matching the description driving away as they entered the estate. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDNA from a clump of hair pulled from McCabe by the victim matched McCabe. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDNA from a clump of hair pulled from McCabe matched her. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMiranda McCabe pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Stephanie Dunne. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMcCabe pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Stephanie Dunne. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan adjourned the case to 12 May for a Probation Services report (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe victim read her own victim impact statement to the court. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered a Probation Services report and adjourned the case to 12 May. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence counsel said McCabe had suffered from mental health difficulties. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDefence counsel said the offence was an isolated incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge said the motive for the attack was not clear. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge found the attack was planned and frightening for the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMcCabe was jailed for nine months. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a sentence of two years and suspended the final 15 months on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe article headline reports McCabe was jailed for nine months. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcCabe has five previous convictions (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcCabe is a single mother to three children, one of whom has significant medical needs. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 May2023Woman jailed for ‘savage’ attack on new mother of premature baby
Sentencing report from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Adds the plea, the sentence, the victim's account, the DNA evidence and mitigation.
convicted, Miranda McCabe, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Miranda McCabevictim, Stephanie Dunne, female, irish (judged from name)Stephanie Dunneaccused, male - 24 May2023Woman jailed from attack on new mum returning from hospital visit to baby
Court report on the sentencing of Miranda McCabe. Adds the sentence (two years with the final 15 months suspended), her five previous convictions, the DNA evidence, the victim impact statement and the judge's remarks. Mentions a male co-accused who remains before the courts.
victim, Stephanie Dunne, female, irish (judged from name)Stephanie Dunneconvicted, Miranda McCabe, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Miranda McCabeaccused, male - 17 Feb2023Woman carried out ‘savage’ attack on new mother who had just returned home from visiting premature baby
Reports the guilty plea hearing, the victim's impact statement, the judge's description of the attack as 'savage', and the adjournment to 12 May 2023 for a Probation Services report.
victim, Stephanie Dunne, female, irish (judged from name)Stephanie Dunneaccused, Miranda McCabe, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Miranda McCabeaccused, male - 17 Feb2023Meath woman to be sentenced later this year for 'savage' attack on another woman
Adds details from the 17 February 2023 sentencing hearing: Judge Nolan's comments on the 'savage' attack, the adjournment to 12 May for a Probation Services report, the man in the car holding butcher knives, McCabe's statement 'This is only the start', DNA evidence from a clump of hair, McCabe's five previous convictions, and her status as a single mother to three children.
victim, Stephanie Dunne, female, irish (judged from name)Stephanie Dunneaccused, Miranda McCabe, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Miranda McCabeaccused, male