Witnesses describe lethal roadside attack in Scarlett Faulkner murder trial

Witnesses have given evidence at the Central Criminal Court about a roadside assault on Scarlett Faulkner at Birdhill, County Tipperary, on the afternoon of March 21, 2026. The Irish Examiner, the Irish Times, and the Irish Independent reported that ten witnesses described what they saw while driving near the Birdhill roundabout off the M7 between Limerick and Nenagh. Faulkner died three weeks later on April 13, according to the Irish Examiner. [1][2][3]

Trudy Doyle told prosecution counsel Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing that she was in total shock after seeing a female standing by the road and striking down six or more times on Faulkner's head with a metal bar, the Irish Examiner reported. Doyle said that despite closed car windows and playing music, she heard the impact of the rapid blows. She also observed other bystanders holding phones who seemed nonengaged and nonchalant, according to the Irish Examiner. [1]

The Irish Times and the Irish Independent reported that driver Ivan Kennedy witnessed a female bashing Faulkner's head as she lay on the ground. According to the Irish Times, Kennedy told prosecutor Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing that he saw the attack at approximately 5:20pm, noting the accused was striking with nearly as much force as possible. [2][3]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, a jury was sworn in for the trial of a woman and a 17-year-old girl accused of murdering Faulkner, who was a mother of one. The teenage defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder, and the trial is scheduled to run for about four weeks. [7]