A young Muslim student was punched in the face and racially taunted as she walked down a Dublin street wearing a head scarf. A Dublin mother (23) has been convicted for assaulting the young Libyan, who was rescued by a passing motorist who stopped and helped her home.
Helen Doran’s victim was wearing a traditional Muslim hijab or head scarf. Doran followed her across a road after assaulting her and continued to shout racist insults at her.
Doran, of Castlecurragh Vale in Mulhuddart, admitted before Blanchardstown District Court to assaulting a 20-year-old Libyan student on November 2 last year. Judge Anthony Halpin sentenced Doran to three months in prison, suspended for one year.
Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said the victim was walking along Castlecurragh Road when two men and a woman approached her. The victim had just attended a FAS course and was putting credit into her mobile phone.
The sergeant said the woman was wearing a traditional Muslim head scarf, and Doran and her accomplices started taunting her. The court heard one of the men grabbed the woman’s mobile phone and Doran punched her in the face.
Sgt Callaghan said Doran repeatedly shouted racist slurs at the woman, who crossed the road to get away from her attacker. However, Doran followed her across the road and continued to shout racist insults at her. Sgt Callaghan said a motorist stopped and helped the victim, who later reported the matter to gardai.
Defence solicitor John O’Doherty said Doran, a married mum of one, had been drinking heavily and was on tablets.
Mr O’Doherty said Doran was completely ashamed of her behaviour and had never been in this kind of trouble before. He said she was under the influence of one of her accomplices at the time, and he is also before the courts.
Judge Halpin said Doran frightened the young woman and made her feel like a lesser person. He gave her a three-month suspended sentence.