A young West Clare mother yesterday described her panic after a woman opened the back door of her car and poured petrol over her 18-month-old daughter.Mary Kelly told a jury at Ennis Circuit Court how Majella McCarthy (26) poured "lots" of petrol on her daughter, Aisling, as she sat in the baby-seat of Ms Kelly's parked car in Miltown Malbay last March. From the nearby village of Cree, Ms Kelly said that she saw Ms McCarthy, of Galway Road, Ennis, with a petrol can banging on the window where Aisling was and before she was able to reach the the car's central locking button, Ms McCarthy had the door open.
After seeing Ms McCarthy pour petrol from a petrol can on Aisling, Ms Kelly said that she got out of her driving seat and ran to get Aisling. Stephen Coughlan, for the State, said Ms McCarthy was restrained by two local men, Gerry O'Malley and Kevin Downes, until gardai arrived.
The State yesterday concluded its evidence and the trial is expected to conclude today. Full story available from The Irish Independent here
