Staircase Attack: Shameful record holder pushes 70-year-old neighbor downstairs

CO LONGFORD, Ireland - A woman has been imprisoned for three and a half years for the "extremely callous and sinister" conduct of "literally throwing" her 70-year-old neighbor down nine steps of a steep staircase in their apartment complex in Abbeylara, Co Longford, last year.

Denise Curran (40) appeared before a Judge at Longford Circuit Court, where she was sentenced for a section three attack on her neighbor by throwing her down the stairs.

On Friday, Garda Sabrina Scally told the court that, on the evening of November 12, 2023, Garda got a report from Ms. Curran, who reported the wounded individual, an upstairs neighbor, had approached her door with a knife.

Ms Curran also expressed concern for her upstairs neighbor's well-being following a fall down the stairs, and she made a second 999 call.

Garda arrived and found Ms Curran drunk. Garda used a phone torch to navigate the dark hallway upstairs. They saw a lot of blood in the hallway and on the stairs going to the injured party's flat.

When they knocked on the door, the injured party did not answer. Garda busted the door open. Upon entering the apartment, they discovered blood on the floor and a severe cut on the back of the injured party's head.

CCTV footage produced in court showed the woman walking downstairs. As she walked back up, she turned around and appeared to be talking to someone farther down the steps before disappearing again.

She returned upstairs and was followed by Ms Curran, who grabbed the woman's arm before shoving her down the stairs and following on foot. Shortly after, the woman was spotted slowly mounting the steps while tripping slightly. The footage shows a big gash on the back of her head.

EMS transported her to Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar and treated her for her injuries.

Garda initially questioned Ms Curran, who denied any responsibility and said that the wounded party possessed a knife. However, she eventually admitted that it was a lie.

Ms Curran appeared in court with 69 previous convictions. There were 12 convictions for public order, 12 for theft-related offenses, 34 for traffic violations, including several for driving without insurance and driving while disqualified, two for criminal damage, three designated "other," and six for assault.

She was most recently sentenced to four years in prison for careless driving that caused severe injuries. Judge Keenan Johnson suspended the sentence, handed out in January 2023, for five years.

However, due to a breach of the provisions of her suspended sentence, 15 months of the sentence were triggered in July 2023, and Ms Curran served only 21 days before being released.

"Ms. Curran's record is absolutely appalling." "It's a truly horrifying record that she should be deeply ashamed of," Judge Connolly remarked.