A CANADIAN man who launched an unprovoked attack on a Polish neighbour in Shankill after she got off a late Nitelink bus returning from a party has been remanded in custody pending sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Christopher Conroy (20), originally from Toronto, told gardaí he punched the woman several times in the face because he mistook her for a man who had thrown a bottle at him a week before. He told gardaí he had drunk 11 bottles of Heineken, two beers and a bottle of champagne that night.
Conroy, with an address at Olcavor, Bray Road, Shankill, pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman causing her harm near his home on June 17th, 2007.
Judge Katherine Delahunt remanded him in custody for sentence later.
Det Garda Peter Egan told Fiona McGowen, prosecuting, that the victim was walking back to her home at 3.15am after getting off a Nitelink bus when she felt she was being followed, and then saw Conroy running at her.
He pushed her to the ground and put his hand over her mouth as she tried to scream.
Conroy then punched her in the face and mouth, before getting up and running into a house.
Det Garda Egan said the woman did not know Conroy and had only been living in the area a short time. She was assisted by neighbours and then brought to hospital and treated for bruising and cuts to her face.
Orla Crowe, defending, said Conroy wished to apologise to his victim and had €5,000 in court to offer as compensation.