A witness told the Central Criminal Court that a violent roadside confrontation in Birdhill resembled something out of an apocalyptic movie, as the murder trial surrounding the death of Scarlett Faulkner entered its fourth day.
Scarlett Faulkner died on 13 April 2026, following an incident on 21 March in Co Tipperary. A 41-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl are currently on trial before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury of eight men and four women, each denying the murder charge. Denying the murder charge while admitting to manslaughter, the 17-year-old defendant cannot be named due to her status as a minor, whereas her 41-year-old co-defendant maintains a not guilty plea regarding the murder accusation. Facing further allegations, the 41-year-old also entered pleas of not guilty to charges of burglary, trespassing in a building, and committing criminal damage at a Co Tipperary location on 20 March. Furthermore, she denied an additional count of burglary combined with assault causing harm at a property in Limerick on 21 March.
Eyewitness Accounts Detail Birdhill Scene
Giving evidence before the court, witness Brian Whelan described driving near Birdhill on 21 March when he initially mistook the chaos for a traffic jam. As he got closer, he saw a man standing on the roof of a van among bits of cars scattered across the road and women shouting. He noted that it was “like a scene from an apocalyptic movie”. Though he did not pull over at the time—a decision he later expressed regret for—he contacted 999.
A 41-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl have gone on trial accused of murdering 28-year-old Scarlett Faulkner in Co Tipperary earlier this year. The prosecution alleges Scarlett’s death was part of a joint enterprise involving the two accused. The court has heard that the… pic.twitter.com/NJAuQYjFrL
Other motorists travelling through the area encountered the violence firsthand. Witnesses described seeing a girl lying on the road and a female striking the victim’s head with a long piece of wood or a stick. One witness described the attacker holding the weapon above her head and swinging at the victim, striking her ten or eleven times. Another witness noted a younger girl beside the attacker who appeared to be recording what was happening on a mobile phone.
The prosecution’s opening arguments from barrister Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC allege that the two accused “hunted down” 28-year-old Scarlett Faulkner as part of a joint enterprise to cause serious harm or death, motivated by a relationship between Ms Faulkner and the older accused’s former partner. According to the opening statement, the older woman followed her former partner before ramming him off the road. The younger accused then struck Ms Faulkner ten or eleven times with a 63cm metal pole.
Doctor and Bystanders Treat Severe Head Wound at Scene
An off-duty doctor, Dr Maheraj, provided immediate medical intervention. Finding Ms Faulkner unconscious with a massive wound to her head with exposed bone and brain tissue, Dr Maheraj worked to manage her airway and stem the bleeding with help from bystanders until she could be airlifted to University Hospital Limerick. Officers from the armed response unit reached the location ahead of the ambulances, bringing with them medical gear that was utilized to support Ms Faulkner’s breathing.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
Eyewitnesses at the murder trial of Scarlett Faulkner have described shouting at a woman to stop “bashing” another woman with a bat on a roadside in Co Tipperary earlier this year. The jury heard that Scarlett was found bleeding profusely, with a severe head injury, near… pic.twitter.com/iHmuUdCeG0
