Woman who held down a victim while her accomplice beat has been given a suspended sentence 

By Sonya McLean 
 
A woman who held a victim down by sitting on his legs while her accomplice attacked him has been given a 20 month suspended sentence. 

Asiah Boudakhan (20) of no fixed abode pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Temple Bar Square, Dublin on March 14, 2024.

She has no previous convictions.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the assault which showed Boudakhan punching the victim after he approached her and her co-accused.

A scuffle broke out and the victim was brought onto the road where Boudakhan sat on his legs holding him to the ground.

She could be seen on footage going through the man’s pockets while she restrained him.

Both Boudakhan and her co-accused attacked the man and the other man later struck the victim with a bottle in the face.

It was accepted that the victim’s injuries were relatively minor.

The man didn’t prepare a victim impact statement and there was no medical report before the court.

Defence counsel told Judge Martin Nolan that Boudakhan is currently homeless.

She started drinking when she was 13 years old and left the family home because of her own “challenging behaviour”.

Counsel said Boudakhan was intoxicated at the time and unable to control her actions. She is deeply remorseful for her involvement.

Judge Martin Nolan said that the victim did not have serious injuries and has since made a full recovery.

He said Boudakhan had not had the best start in life and it would be unjust to imprison her on her first offence.

“She is entitled to some form of a chance.” Judge Nolan said before he imposed a 20 month sentence which he suspended in full.