Feud between families started over pair of shoes, court hears

A row between two families that started over a pair of shoes may have led to a Dublin woman losing the sight in one eye after allegedly being glassed in a nightclub on St Patrick’s Day 2013, a court heard.

On the second day of her trial, the interview of the accused woman, Emma Hammond (22), was read to the court.

Ms Hammond, from Poppintree, Ballymun, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm to Natasha Mooney (25) at Dusk Nightclub in the Northside Shopping Centre on March 18th, 2013.

Garda Lisa Murray of Coolock Garda station said gardaí in Ballymun and other State services were aware of a feud between Ms Hammond’s family and the complainant.

During the interview the accused said a pair of shoes her older sister left in Ms Mooney’s house after a night out was said to be the reason for the falling out between the families.

In the interview transcript read to the court by prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small, Ms Hammond said that she had never had a physical altercation with Ms Mooney before but that she had got “hidings” from other people in relation to the dispute.

In the early hours of the morning in the nightclub, Ms Hammond and Ms Mooney allegedly got into an fight that resulted in Ms Mooney needing surgery to her left eye to remove a piece of glass.

Nightclub

Ms Hammond’s interview described how she had attempted to avoid Ms Mooney in the nightclub.

She said she had her phone in one hand and a glass in the other when Ms Mooney approached her from behind. Ms Hammond said she did not know exactly what had happened but that she did not intentionally hit Ms Mooney with the glass.

She said she only became aware of the extent of Ms Mooney’s injuries from rumours in the area in the days after the incident.

Danielle Mahon, a friend of the alleged victim, told the jury that she did not see the incident in full but saw glass fall from Ms Mooney's bra when helping her undress in hospital that night.

The trial continues before Judge Desmond Hogan and a jury.