A SHANNON WOMAN who stabbed another girl with a stiletto heel below the eye is set to escape jail for the offence.
This follows the Probation Services recommending to Judge Gerald Keys at Ennis Circuit Court today that Shannon Jordan would be a suitable candidate for Probation Supervision.
In the case, Shannon Jordan, aged 19, of Lios Anana, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, stabbed her victim with a stiletto heel during a drunken row after a school graduation ceremony.
Jordan’s victim, Natasha Griffin McMahon – who was aged 17 at the time of the assault in August 2015 – suffered a fractured eye socket and laceration when Jordan used the pointed heel of her shoe to strike her in the face.
In her victim impact statement, Griffin McMahon said that she came close to being blinded by the stiletto attack.
She said that the deepest cut from the stiletto “was millimetres below my eye”.
If it had been even slightly higher I would have lost my eye completely or at best my sight. It terrifies me to think of how much my life would have been affected if that had happened.
‘It still unnerves me’
Griffin McMahon said that she had to undergo extensive medical treatment to deal with her facial injury after the attack.
The victim underwent surgery and it was only after four to five months that she began to regain the feeling and movement in the side of her face that was subjected to the stiletto attack.
Griffin McMahon said that she feels lucky that the outcome of the altercation wasn’t worse.
“It still unnerves me to think how close I came to being blinded. And to how much worse this could have been,” McMahon said.
“It is shocking how quickly a weapon was introduced to this altercation and how dangerous it proved to be.”
In her statement read out to court, Griffin McMahon said: “Every time I met with the doctor, they advised me of how fortunate I had been.
“Fortunate not to have lost my eye and fortunate to have been under such good care at the hospital that they were able to recover the feeling in my face.”
The incident occurred in Shannon town centre as a group of teenagers returned from a school graduation ceremony in Limerick in the early hours of 25 August 2015.
It is accepted that Jordan did not remove her shoes for the purpose of attacking Griffin McMahon.
Compensation
Jordan has been paying compensation to Griffin McMahon at a rate of €50 a week since February of this year.
In all, Jordan is to pay €5,000 in compensation to Griffin McMahon and counsel for Jordan, Pat Whyms BL told court yesterday that his client is continuing to pay over the €50 per week.
In court last month, Judge Keys issued Jordan with a stern warning that she faces jail unless she shows full co-operation with the Probation Service.
Whyms told court today that the Probation Report “is generally favourable”.
He said: “On the last occasion, there were questions about the level of cooperation from Ms Jordan, but on this occasion, the Probation Officer is saying that she has increased her co-operation, is attending appointments and is suitable for Probation Supervision.
“If the court wanted to impose same, that would be acceptable to the Probation Service.”
Detective Sergeant Kevin O’Hagan previously told the court that there was a high level of intoxication among the group as they returned by bus from Limerick.
The court heard that when the bus arrived at Shannon at around 3am, a verbal argument erupted between Griffin Jones and Jordan’s then-boyfriend.
O’Hagan said Griffin McMahon pushed Jordan who was carrying her shoes in her hand after the night out.
Jordan then used the shoe to strike her victim in the face.
O’Hagan said on the night, Jordan later attended Shannon Garda Station, made admissions and indicated her actions were in self-defence.
Jordan has no previous convictions and works in the bar trade.
O’Hagan said that there is a “very minimal” risk of the teen reoffending.
Whyms said that it was never his client’s intention to cause injury to the girl’s eye. He said it was an “excessive reaction” to being pushed.
Judge Keys adjourned sentencing to next February and remanded Jordan on continuing bail.
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