Cork woman pleads guilty to 'unprovoked assault' on worker in city casino
Court heard a member of staff was having difficulty getting the accused to leave the premises during a disturbance and when the injured party went to her colleague’s assistance she was assaulted. Picture: Dan Linehan
A woman who admitted assaulting a woman working at a casino in Cork City may be dealt with through a restorative justice programme.
Judge Mary Dorgan suggested this might be the approach to take in this case in light of the victim impact evidence from the young woman who was assaulted while working at Leeside Casino on Winthrop Street.
35-year-old Sorcha Waters, of Mount St Joseph’s Drive, Gurranabraher, Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to a charge of assaulting the injured party on November 24, 2023.
The background to the matter is that a member of staff was having difficulty getting Waters to leave the premises during a disturbance and when the injured party went to her colleague’s assistance she was assaulted.
Judge Mary Dorgan said: “I think it is important that the victim is heard in this case and asked whether she would engage in restorative justice. I think it would be helpful.”
The judge directed the case would be adjourned until March 24 for a probation report and an update on accessing treatment in Coolmine and for Waters to gather compensation for the victim.
Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said: “My client has read the victim impact statement. She is making a complete turnaround in her own life. She is recovering from a fairly significant addiction.”
Judge Dorgan said: “She will have to do something as it is an unprovoked assault. It was particularly harrowing for this person, who had to give up her job.”
Sergeant Gearóid Davis said the accused had previous convictions that included one for assault causing harm to another woman, for which she received a jail sentence earlier this year. That offence dated back to August 14, 2022.
