A woman in her 80s who was attacked in south Dublin just over three years ago has passed away.
Alex Bailey of Claragh, Ramelton in Co Donegal was jailed for two-and-a-half years in May 2023 for the attack on Marie MacGowan in Ranelagh in September 2022, in which he punched and kicked her and put her into a bin.
Ms MacGowan who was 86 at the time had early onset dementia and had moved to sheltered accommodation in the area to be nearer to her family.
However, after the attack she could no longer live independently.
The court heard the attack happened when Ms MacGowan decided to go out to the shops, not realising it was 1am.
She got lost and met Bailey outside an ice cream shop. CCTV footage showed him assaulting her sporadically for 42 minutes.
He knocked her to the ground, punched, kicked and dragged her and put her headfirst into a wheelie bin.
The bin fell over and he then attacked her again as she tried to get out.
The attack only ended when students walking past noticed Ms MacGowan sitting on the path and a female student came to help her.
Her family described this as a "life changing, courageous act".
The court was told Bailey had taken cocaine and alcohol and was experiencing drug and alcohol induced psychosis when he attacked Ms MacGowan.
Her son Jack told the court she had suffered ongoing problems with her balance since the attack.
Her dementia had worsened and she was sad and depressed as she could no longer live independently.
Ms MacGowan, who was originally from Cavan and grew up near Kells, passed away on Tuesday.
She had been taken out of school at 15 to help run the family farm and was well known in the Carnaross mart in Co Meath. She was also deeply involved in the local Kells community.
Her funeral mass will take place in Kells tomorrow.
