Judge hears county Longford mother ‘harassed and bullied’ following assault case coverage

A 37 year-old single mother of three - who had “simply lost her cool” when she pulled a woman by the hair and dragged her out of the house last year - told Longford District Court of the stress she experienced in recent weeks after finding herself on the receiving end of bullying and harassment arising from media coverage of her case.

Claudia McDonagh, of 11A Cloverwell, Edgeworthstown, was before the court charged with assault causing harm after she confronted the woman at her home in Abhainn Glas, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, on September 4 last year, a few days following a dispute between their children.

During the attack, to which Ms McDonagh has pleaded guilty, she caused bruising to the victim’s arms after violently pulling her though the door of her house, and grabbing her hair. Refuting suggestions that the victim’s children had been in fear of going outside after that, Ms Mimnagh told the court that while she was not taking away from the victim’s trauma, her client wanted it clarified that “the children were and about playing the next day.”

Addressing the court in person as well as through her solicitor, Ms McDonagh said the reporting of the case had resulted in her being targeted online.

Ms Mimnagh added that her client’s mental health and anxiety had “reached high levels” as a result of the case coverage in national newspapers which had “seen her being harassed and bullied on social media.”

Addressing the incident later in proceedings, Ms Mimnagh said, “Ms McDonagh is a single parent living alone with three children.

“There was an issue which resolved itself but this young boy came to Claudia, complained about what had happened and it’s for that reason, she went to the lady, and it got out of hand. She accepts that. She has admitted it, and knows she has to pay consequences.”

Informing the court that one of the children involved had Autism, Ms Mimnagh said “Most parents can tolerate abuse themselves but when it involves their children especially who are vulnerable … she simply lost her cool.”

Ms Mimnagh added that her client was “anxious to remind the court that she had pleaded guilty.”

While Judge Owens accepted Ms McDonagh’s plea, she said there was one aspect that she had to take into account, namely that the defendant was standing before the court with 87 previous convictions to her name.

Addressing this factor, Ms Mimagh pointed out that they had all occurred prior to her client having children and that “she didn’t want to add any more.”

She told the court that Ms McDonagh’s children were her life and that she was living on a very minimum income.

“She did enter a plea of guilty” Ms Mimnagh reiterated.

“She could have fought it because there are two sides to every story but she wants to get it over and done with.”

The court was also informed that no other issues had occurred between the two parties since the incident occurred just over a year ago.

Taking into consideration Ms McDonagh’s personal circumstances and the circumstances of the case itself, Judge Owens ordered her to pay €250 to Granard’s Lus na Gréine Centre and gave her 5 months to do so. The case has been adjourned until February 17, 2026.

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