Attacked for being an influencer: Woman, 24, reveals how a man punched her from behind leaving her with facial injuries in an unprovoked attack after seeing her taking selfies on a night out – saying she’ it deserved’

A man who unleashed an unprovoked, violent attack on an influencer – while she was having dinner and drinks with some friends – has been jailed for 18 months.

Charleen Murphy, 24, from Dublin, was ‘hit with full force’ from behind, ‘so hard that her drinking glass on the table crashed into her head’, leaving her with ‘blood-soaked hair and a two-inch gash that required stitches ‘ .

Last week, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard how Craig O’Brien, 28, from Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the social media star on February 10. Irish examiner reported.

During his police interrogation, the attacker, who is also believed to have suffered from drug problems and psychosis, had insisted that influencers ‘attacked him’ and ‘deserved it’.

Podcast host Charleen, who has more than 225,000 followers on Instagram, was enjoying an evening at Dublin’s Grafton Capital Hotel – which she had posted about online – before she was suddenly struck by O’Brien, who followed her on social media but moved on a total stranger.

She later said of the attack: “Unfortunately there remains a very dark side to social media that I have fallen victim to in ways I could never have imagined.”

Judge Orla Crowe commented on the ‘absolutely shocking images that came out of nowhere’ as CCTV was shown to the court.

“Ms Murphy was unable to protect herself when she was hit from behind,” she added.

Charleen saw O’Brien – who she had never met in person but knew – as she turned and he walked away from her.

As she bled, an ambulance and gardaí were called.

The Irish examiner also reported that O’Brien later raised Charleen’s voice to ask, “How’s the head?”

She was able to identify her attacker when she spoke to authorities and a search warrant was soon issued for O’Brien’s home. There, police found a jacket that matched the jacket worn on the hotel CCTV footage.

During his gardaí interview, O’Brien also reportedly claimed that influencers were ‘harassing’ him, calling Charleen a ‘stupid b***h’ who ‘probably deserved it’, although he ‘felt bad for her’.

Judge Crowe told the court the pair have no history between them and called the attack ‘unprovoked and unwarranted’.

It is also understood that when asked by gardaí, O’Brien said he was taking anti-psychosis medication every day.

Miska Hanahoe, defending, said her client came to the station as soon as he was contacted.

She added that O’Brien apologized and insisted he poses no current danger to Charleen.

Ms Hanahoe also said her client has a problem with aggression, which is linked to the medication he started taking at the age of 14.

Breakingnews.ie added that, according to the defense, O’Brien “had a drug-induced psychosis and genuinely believed that social media influencers were out to get him.”

The outlet also reported that the attacker had been in contact with a drug counselor while in custody.

He told the court in a letter that he is “truly remorseful” and “sorry for what he did”, stating he was not taking any medication when the incident occurred.

According to Breakingnews.ieO’Brien has ten previous convictions, two of which were for assault.

Judge Crowe sentenced him to two years and three months. The last nine months are suspended for eighteen months.

O’Brien is also ordered to unfollow Charleen on all social media and not attempt to contact her again. Five years after his release, he is also not allowed to come within 50 meters of her.

On Friday, Charleen thanked her Instagram followers for their “continued love and support” during the ordeal.

Posting a photo of herself in hospital on the night of the attack, she wrote: ‘Today I finally got justice for the attack I was subjected to in February this year.

‘The evening in question was intended as a nice catch up with an old friend for dinner and drinks in a restaurant. However, a person sought out my location to harm me.

“I say a little justice because for me, 18 months will never represent the damage that was done and how it has affected and continues to affect me today.”

She recounted the horrific attack and the resulting injuries.

“In these photos you can see how my night started and ended with blood-soaked hair and a two-inch gash that needed stitches,” she said.

‘There is still a physical scar, but the emotional scar will take much longer to heal.

‘Over the past few months it may have seemed like life was still going on, but behind the scenes I have been in and out of court, including taking the witness stand the morning after the attack, and I have really struggled to cope with it all. to go.’

Charleen then revealed how she took the stand on Friday to ‘acknowledge how this attack has affected her life’ – but also ‘wanted to also mention that this isn’t just about her’.

“It affects women everywhere,” she wrote.

‘And especially in Ireland, which unfortunately adds another setting to the list of places where we’re just not safe. I hope no other online creator will ever experience what I went through, but more importantly, no other woman will!

‘Thank you for all your continued love and support, it’s such a blessing and I look forward to moving on with my life and hoping I can get something positive out of a terrible situation.’