A distraught sister who attacked the woman she blamed for involving her brother in drugs two days after he committed suicide was yesterday granted an absolute discharge at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Alistair Duff took the unusual step after describing the circumstances of the case as, “not only uncommon but tragic and terrible from the accused’s point of view.”
Sarah Anne McCarron (30), of Barns of Wedderburn, Kellas, had previously admitted assaulting Marie Low (29) at Red Admiral Court on October 27, grabbing her by the hair while brandishing a hammer and attempting to strike her with it.
When the case was last called the court was told McCarron’s brother had been found two days before the assault and had gone to Red Admiral Court where he had been living.
She suspected Miss Low of being the person who had involved her brother in drugs and spun her round, attempting to strike her on the head with the hammer.
The court heard McCarron was a genuine first offender who at the time had suffered terrible grief arising from the death of her brother.
As a result she had lost her job, but is seeking new employment.
Sheriff Duff said the circumstances leading up to the assault were “exceptional and distressing,” and the what McCarron had done was “very wrong.”
However, he continued, “When I heard the circumstances surrounding what you did, in responding as a person, never mind as a judge, I found it very difficult.”
The sheriff said he had never had any doubt she would stay out of trouble and he had really wanted to give her the opportunity “to try to piece things back together.”
She had gone a long way towards doing that and should be congratulated for her efforts, he went on.
“I think it is time to bring this case to an end and it is right that everyone to whom you have to report the circumstances of this matter should get a proper sense of the view that was taken by the court,” he told McCarron.
That being the case, he granted an absolute discharge.