Charleen Murphy has broken her silence, after a man accused of attacking her was sent forward for trial.
Craig O’Brien, 27, is charged with assault causing harm to the popular influencer at a hotel in Dublin’s city centre on the night of February 10.
The social media star was enjoying dinner with a friend when the accused allegedly approached her from behind and “punched her full force to the back of the head”.
The court previously heard that the man was “someone known to her and her friend through personal online abuse on various social media accounts”.
During a hearing at Cloverhill District Court on August 22nd, which Charleen attended, Judge Alan Mitchell granted a trial order sending Mr O’Brien forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The case will be listed for mention on October 13.
Mr O’Brien, yet to enter a plea, spoke only to confirm he understood a warning that he must notify the prosecution if he intended to use an alibi.
Picture Brian McEvoy
His solicitor Damien Coffey pleaded for bail in court, saying his client was attempting to address mental health issues and, at the time, he had a “skewed” understanding of reality.
The solicitor said his client would undertake not to contact Charleen, who appeared in court; however, the bail application was denied.
The judge granted legal aid to the accused and ordered gardaí to provide the defence with copies of interview videos.
After her court appearance, Charleen took to her Instagram Stories to speak out on the “long and draining” day.
Alongside a photo of her crying, she wrote: “Finally in bed after a long and draining day.”
“I’m so grateful for the highest of highs that I’ve got to experience lately, but then at the same week as some big achievements I also have to be to nearly be transported straight back to such a painful experience & it’s so so sh*t and heavy and frustrating because it makes you feel everything again.”
“If that whole paragraph makes no sense to some of yous if you’re new here, sorry. Got to see the barbie film with my mam and dad this evening though which was lovely,” Charleen added.
It comes after the Hold My Drink podcast host revealed she’s moving out of her family home, telling her followers: “This is such a big milestone for me that I’m so excited to get to take yous along with me on.”
It was previously alleged that the man who assaulted Charleen entered the hotel and paid for a drink at 9.30pm, before attacking the influencer a minute later.
The court heard how Charleen’s head rebounded off a glass in front of her when she was punched, resulting in a two-inch laceration to the right side her face.
Charleen went to St James’s Hospital where she received stitches, and left A&E at 5am.
Charleen said she and her friend recognised him from “previous online abuse”, and it’s alleged he sent her a voice message on social media after the incident saying, “How’s the head?”
The next day, Charleen appeared in court to give evidence at the bail hearing.
Mr O’Brien was remanded in custody after Garda Stephen McDonnell objected to bail as he stressed the seriousness of the alleged incident.
Court reporting by Tom Tuite.
