Afghan woman convicted of assaulting ex-friend in Ennis residence

A 36-year-old Afghan national has been convicted of trespassing into a former friend's home in Ennis and assaulting her during a dispute over alleged rumours.

Afghan woman convicted of assaulting ex-friend in Ennis residence

A court in County Clare has convicted a 36-year-old woman from Afghanistan of unlawfully entering a former acquaintance's dwelling and attacking her during a heated dispute.

Judge Adrian Harris at Ennis District Court ruled that Razia Malikzada, residing on Gort Road in Ennis, trespassed into the Corrovorrin Grove home of Lema Popalzai on April 6th last year and carried out an assault. A second defendant, neighbour Palwasha Jaid, was cleared of identical charges.

Malikzada acknowledged biting the complainant but maintained she did so to protect herself, alleging Popalzai had restrained her on the floor and struck her face. She testified that she visited the property to challenge Popalzai over claims that she was romantically involved with a man in Afghanistan and financially supporting him.

Popalzai, who fled to Ireland when the Taliban seized power in 2021 and is a mother of five, rejected these accusations. She stated she had severed contact with both defendants long before the incident, and that her young child had unwittingly admitted them. She showed injuries to her neck and a bite mark, requiring hospital transport to Limerick. Video recordings of the altercation were played during proceedings.

The magistrate concluded Malikzada's purpose in going to the house was to settle the disagreement aggressively. The matter returns to Ennis on July 8th for sentencing, pending a statement on how the ordeal affected the victim.

Source: BreakingNews.ie

Source: BreakingNews.ie