Former Dublin babysitter charged with armed burglary at family's northside home

Sara Campbell (40), from Coolock, is accused of aggravated burglary involving a gun and knife at the home of a family she once babysat for. Bail was refused at Dublin District Court.

Accused allegedly brandished gun and demanded €10,000 from former employers

A Dublin woman who once worked as a babysitter for a north Dublin family has been charged with aggravated burglary after allegedly returning to their home armed with a gun and a knife, TheJournal.ie reports.

Sara Campbell (40), of Macroom Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, appeared at Dublin District Court, where bail was refused after Garda Adrian O'Hanlon raised concerns about potential witness interference. The garda cited the seriousness of the charge, the use of a firearm, and an alleged assault that left a male occupant with blunt force injuries to the head.

The victim's wife gave evidence in court, saying the incident unfolded at around 11.30am on Friday. She recalled hearing a door open and seeing Campbell standing there — at first feeling pleased and moving to embrace her, because "she used to babysit for us."

Her relief was short-lived. A man accompanying Campbell immediately began shouting and swearing at her husband before striking him. The witness said the scene was frantic: the man punched her husband twice in the head with a handgun before handing the weapon to Campbell, who allegedly shouted: "Give me the gun, I'll kill him, and then I will kill myself."

Campbell also allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and began swinging it around during the incident.

The court heard that the witness's brother, who was upstairs at the time, was placed in a headlock and had €1,000 in cash taken from him while Campbell rummaged through the rooms. His car was also taken. When he pleaded with the intruders to leave his keys behind, they agreed — on the condition that no one contacted the gardaí for 20 minutes, promising to leave the vehicle at a specified location.

The witness further alleged that Campbell had sent a text message some months earlier demanding €10,000.

Garda O'Hanlon described the accused as harbouring a "longstanding animosity" toward the family. Asked whether any bail conditions could address his concerns, he replied no — the "animosity and bad feeling" from the accused was, he said, "too strong." Both members of the couple also have health problems, adding to his concerns about witness safety.

Campbell appeared in court unrepresented, as solicitors are currently engaged in industrial action over legal aid reforms. Visibly upset, she told Judge Mark O'Connell that she had a longstanding grievance with the family and "did not know what else to say" as she pleaded for bail.

She has not yet entered a plea and was remanded in custody to appear again next week.

Source: TheJournal.ie