A WOMAN threw a large rock and hit the back of a garda's head during a public order incident arising out of an alleged family feud, a court heard.

Helen Collins (45) had come out of her home to get her son, and claimed she was throwing the rock at someone else and accidentally hit the garda.

Judge Patrick Clyne fined Collins €250.

The defendant, of Avilla Gardens in Finglas, admitted before Blanchardstown District Court to assaulting Garda Ciara McGowan at Avilla Park halting site on July 28.

Sergeant Maria Callaghan said gardai were called to the halting site following reports of a serious public order incident which arose out of "an alleged feud".

The sergeant said the defendant's family was involved in the row.

She said Collins was verbally abusive to gardai. She threw a large rock which hit the back of Gda McGowan's head. She did not suffer any injuries.

Defence solicitor Simon Fleming said Collins, a single mother, was throwing the stone at another person, and mistakenly hit the garda.

He said a group had come to the area and was attacking houses, which was part of a larger Traveller dispute which does not involve the defendant.

hnews@herald.ie