Woman and Teenage Girl Face Court Over Brutal Tipperary Assault
A woman in her 40s and a teenage girl have been formally charged in connection with a severe assault that left a 29-year-old mother fighting for her life in hospital. The incident occurred on Saturday evening along the R494 road in Birdhill, County Tipperary, sparking a major Garda investigation.
Victim in Critical Condition Following Horrific Attack
Scarlett Faulkner, a 29-year-old mother from Limerick, remains in critical condition at Cork University Hospital after sustaining severe head injuries during the assault. According to reports, the vehicle she was travelling in was deliberately rammed off the road before she was forcibly dragged from the vehicle and attacked. The motive behind this violent act remains unclear to investigators.
Following the attack, Ms Faulkner was initially airlifted to University Hospital Limerick for emergency treatment before being transferred to the specialist facilities at Cork University Hospital, where she continues to receive intensive medical care.
Arrests and Charges Following Garda Investigation
On Thursday morning, Gardaí from Nenagh conducted arrests at an address in Limerick, detaining both a woman in her 40s and a teenage girl in connection with the assault. Both individuals were held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Garda stations in County Tipperary.
Gardaí have confirmed that both suspects have since been charged in relation to the serious assault and were scheduled to appear before a special sitting of Limerick District Court at approximately 5pm on Saturday.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Appeal
A Garda spokesperson has emphasized that investigations into the assault are continuing and has made a specific appeal to the public regarding video footage of the incident. Authorities have urged people not to share any recordings online but instead to provide them directly to investigating Gardaí.
Police are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has information about two specific vehicles: a grey 162 Ford Transit van and a blue 161 Volkswagen Touran people carrier that were reportedly driving in the area around the time of the attack.
Specific Details Sought by Investigators
Gardaí have provided detailed information about the timeframe and locations they are investigating. They are seeking anyone who was travelling on the R494 between Birdhill and the M7 motorway between 5pm and 6pm on Saturday, 21 March, particularly those who may have dash-cam or other camera footage.
Investigators are specifically interested in the movements of the two identified vehicles between 4.30pm and 5.30pm on that Saturday in and around Birdhill village and several surrounding townlands in County Tipperary, including:
- Cooleen
- Crag Cross
- Shower Cross
- Kylebeg
- Annaholty
- Thornhill
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Nenagh Garda Station directly, use the Garda Confidential Line, or approach any Garda station with relevant details.
