Court hears former babysitter accused of armed burglary
A woman who once worked as a babysitter for a Dublin family has been charged with aggravated burglary following an alleged armed raid on their home. Sara Campbell (40), of Macroom Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, appeared before Dublin District Court accused of the offence at a residential address in the city's north side.
Bail was denied after Garda Adrian O’Hanlon raised concerns over potential witness interference with the couple, who both have health problems. 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 head injuries.
Alleged incident
The court heard the incident unfolded at around 11.30am on Friday. Giving evidence, the alleged victim's wife said she heard a door open and saw the accused standing there. She said she initially felt happy and moved to give Campbell a hug because "she used to babysit for us."
The woman said she then saw there was a man with the accused, who began shouting and swearing at her husband before punching him. She claimed the man struck her husband twice in the head with a handgun before the weapon was handed over to Campbell, at which point Campbell allegedly shouted: "Give me the gun, I’ll kill him, and then I will kill myself."
The court heard that at one stage, the accused grabbed a kitchen knife and began swinging it around. Meanwhile, the witness's brother, who was upstairs, was put in a headlock and had €1,000 cash taken from him while Campbell rummaged through the rooms, it was alleged.
The witness also told the court her brother's car was taken. When he begged the raiders to leave the keys in it, they agreed on the condition that the occupants did not call gardaí for 20 minutes, telling him they would leave the vehicle at a specific location.
The woman further alleged that Campbell had demanded €10,000 in a text message sent some months prior.
Bail objections and adjournment
Garda O’Hanlon objected to bail, and when asked if any conditions could alleviate his concerns, he replied no, sustaining his objection because "the animosity and bad feeling" from the accused was "too strong."
Campbell, who has yet to enter a plea, told Judge Mark O’Connell she had a longstanding grievance with the family. She pleaded for bail unrepresented due to ongoing industrial action by solicitors over legal aid reforms. A visibly upset Campbell told the judge she "did not know what else to say" as she pleaded for bail.
Judge O’Connell remanded Campbell in custody to appear again next week.