Threw a drink in girl’s face

A teenager who assaulted another girl because she thought she was taking a picture of her has been given a four month suspended sentence at Drogheda District Court.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan told Jessica Woods she was ‘very foolish’ for failing to engage with the Probation Service when she had the chance.

The court previously heard the 19-year-old had suffered serious burns some years ago in an explosion involving an aerosol can and as a result was very sensitive about her appearance.

THE incident happened on October 9th last year at Marleys Lane when Woods threw a drink in the girl’s face and she walked past her before dragging her to the ground and punching her in the face and body several times.

The entire incident was captured on CCTV. The court had been told that at the time of the offence, the injured party had been holding a phone and Woods thought she was taking a picture of her.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan had adjourned the casein October to allow time for the preparation of a Probation Report, however Friday’s sitting of Drogheda District Court heard Woods had failed to engage fully with the Probation Service.

Woods has two previous for public order dating back to March 2019.

Defence Barrister Irene Sands said she couldn’t shy away from the fact that the report wasn’t positive.

‘All I can say is it is honest in so far as she doesn’t want to engage with the Probation services,’ the barrister said. ‘Ms Woods is aware the court is considering a custodial sentence.’

‘Does she want to go into custody Ms Sands because what other alternative do I have if she won’t co-operate?’ Judge Eirinn McKiernan commented.

Ms Sands asked that the judge consider a short adjournment to give Woods time to engage with the Probation Service. She said the defendant was aware that if she didn’t engage the judge’s options were very limited in terms of what she could do.

‘ The reality is she attended one out of five appointments,’ said Judge McKiernan. ‘ The difficulty with this was it was an unprovoked attack and a vicous attack,’ said Judge McKiernan.

Ms Sands pointed out that while it was unprovoked there was a perception there, albeit a wrong one, that there was a slight to Ms Woods.

She asked the judge to consider putting the matter back for a very short period of time to give her the opportunity to engage with the probation services having it been made crystal clear to Woods that she will be facing a custodial sentence if she does not comply.

‘I don’t think that she will engage,’ Judge McKiernan said.

She imposed a four month sentence but suspended it for a period of 12 months.

‘You’re a very foolish young lady that you didn’t take up the assistance of the Probation Service but I can’t make you do that.’