Violent disorder - Three Kilkenny women to face court trial

Three women charged with assault causing harm and other offences have been sent forward for trial to Kilkenny Circuit Court.

Charges against Demi Donovan, 32 Togher Way, Urlingford; Ellen Donovan, Graigueswood, Freshford; and Nora Jackman, 6 Loreto Lodge, Kilkenny, were adjourned for books of evidence to be prepared after a district court judge refused jurisdiction in the serious matter, earlier this year.

Demi Donovan is charged with assault causing harm, violent disorder and criminal damage.
Ellen Donovan is charged with assault causing harm, violent disorder and making threats to kill or cause serious harm.
Nora Jackman is charged with assault causing harm and violent disorder.

All charges arise from an incident alleged to have occurred on September 15, 2024, at Hebron Road.

At a previous court sitting Sergeant Morgan O’Connor told the court that footage of the incident had been recorded and shared to social media.

There are a number of alleged injured parties in the case, all members of the same family.

On that occasion he also told the judge that one of the injured parties, a woman, suffered bruising to her hand from an alleged kick.
Another woman was taken to hospital by ambulance and suffered abrasions to her head and the side of her body.

A garda told the court that both women were “lucky not to be more seriously injured.” The garda attended the scene and said both women were “shaken up.”
Four young children were also present when the alleged incident occurred, the garda added.

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In court, last Tuesday, Judge Geraldine Carthy heard that the books of evidence had been presented to the defendants.
Following the usual alibi warning, all three defendants were sent forward to the current sittings of Kilkenny Circuit Court.

All three women were released on continuing bail with conditions including: they not have contact with the injured parties or their families; they stay away from a specified address in Kilkenny; they appear in court on each and every remand date; and they be of sober habits.