Dublin woman who was part of 'Lynch mob' which travelled to Mayo escapes jail

Castlebar District Court heard that three women travelled in car to Mayo to damage vehicles in Ballinrobe

By Anton McNulty Published 3rd Jun 2026, 19:30 BST Updated 3rd Jun 2026, 19:31 BST A woman appeared before Castlebar District Court following incident in Ballinrobe last September | File pic Castlebar District Court heard that three women travelled in car to Mayo to damage vehicles in Ballinrobe Sign up to our Mayo Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Mayo Live within your account.

A DUBLIN woman who was part of a 'Lynch mob' who travelled to Mayo to set fire to a car during a feud in Ballinrobe received a six month suspended prison sentence.

Jasmine Dunne (27) of 22 Eaton Close, Rathcoole, Dublin appeared before Castlebar District Court where she was sentenced after she pleaded guilty to criminal damage and having no insurance following an incident in Ballinrobe in the early hours of September 1, 2025.

The court heard that Ms Dunne was one of three women who travelled from Dublin to Ballinrobe to commit criminal damage to vehicles in the local area during a feud in the south Mayo town.

Garda Colin Murrin explained that at the time there was a feud in Ballinrobe with cars being damaged.

The women, he said, travelled in Ms Dunne's car and committed criminal damage to a Ford Focus car which was parked outside a house on Bog Road, Ballinrobe by smashing the windscreen and causing €350 worth of damage.

Garda Morrin said it was their intention to set fire to the car but they had to flee the scene after they were disturbed by the owner of the car who gave chase.

The women were eventually discovered in an industrial compound after nearly falling into a river and had to call for people to help them.

A co-accused Carolyn Murray (43) with an address at Lettsfield Road, Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, Dublin was sentenced to six months imprisonment in May after she pleaded guilty to criminal damage. The third co-accused who was driving the car has yet to appear before the court.

Garda Morrin confirmed that Ms Dunne was fully insured to drive the car but her co-accused had been disqualified from driving and as a result the insurance was invalidated.

Mr Gary Mulchrone, solicitor for Ms Dunne said his client was not involved in the act of criminal damage herself but admitted being present. He also said she refused to drive the car and this is why the third co-accused person drove away from the scene.

The court was informed that Ms Dunne had a difficult upbringing as her father was killed when she was ten years old. Mr Mulchrone said she has three convictions for minor offences and is the mother of a four year old child and is training to work in the caring sector. Mr Mulchrone said this was a salutary lesson for Ms Dunne and asked the court to be as lenient as possible when sentencing.

Judge Ciarán Liddy described the three accused as a 'Lynch mob travelling from Dublin' and the incident was facilitated by Ms Dunne by the use of her vehicle.

He said that Ms Dunne was very young to be involved in such an incident and while it warranted a custodial sentence he was willing to suspend it.

He imposed a six month prison sentence which was suspended for one year and agreed with Mr Mulchrone not to impose a driving disqualification for no insurance. He fined her €100.