Mother-of-five used hammer in attack on cousin's home and vehicles, court told

Annie Maughan (32) carried out the attack while a family with five children were in the house.

She was later identified by DNA evidence from blood she left at the scene, along with the hammer.

Judge David McHugh deferred a decision on a sentence at Blanchardstown District Court.

Maughan, with addresses including Corduff Grove, Blanchardstown, admitted criminal damage and possession of a hammer with intent to damage property.

Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said Maughan and two other people went to Palmerstown Woods, Clondalkin on December 3, 2017, when €1,200 worth of damage was caused.

The living room window was smashed with a hammer and two vehicles parked outside were also damaged - a Toyota Corolla and Ford Transit van.

Gardaí recovered the hammer and Maughan's blood was found.

Maughan also admitted other offences, including public order charges from an incident at Kilkieran Road, Cabra on May 7, 2020 when she was acting aggressively and highly intoxicated during a fight.

The accused was from a Traveller background and "tensions were high" amid a series of incidents involving members of two families, defence solicitor Simon Fleming said.

In one incident, Maughan's brother suffered "incredibly serious" head injuries when he was attacked with an axe outside Cloverhill Prison.

Judge McHugh said Maughan had gone with a hammer to cause cause "criminal damage with a capital C."

Maughan was now pregnant and Mr Fleming asked the judge not to jail her. Adjourning a decision in the case, Judge McHugh said what happened was "appalling."