WOMAN WHO COUGHED AT PARAMEDICS IS LOCKED UP FOR 6 MONTHS
Pupils ‘will need special support’ Judge slams ‘appalling’ 30-yr-old who told victims: I have virus
CHILDREN will need extra support when they return to school, it was claimed yesterday.
Unicef, the Irish Second Level Students’ Union, National Parents’ Council Post Primary and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors jointly called on Education Minister Norma Foley to address the issues.
Unicef Ireland’s Peter Power said: “An entire generation has seen its education disrupted. When they return to school, they must be guided through the adjustment.
“[We’re] calling for a commitment from Government that the special supports children need will be in place, with particular consideration given to the needs of vulnerable or disadvantaged children.”
A WOMAN was jailed for six months yesterday for coughing at two paramedics and telling them: “I have the virus.”
Judge Patrick Durcan said Rebecca Blunnie’s drunken behaviour on April 10 “was of an absolutely appalling nature”.
The 30-year-old, of Pella Rd, Kilrush, Co Clare, had admitted to the assault of David Meaney and Frank Greaney at Dunogrogue, Killimer, on April 10.
Sgt Aiden Lonergan told Ennis District Court the two paramedics were within 1m of Blunnie when she coughed in the confined space of an ambulance.
Judge Durcan said: “On that date, this country was in a maelstrom in the middle of the worst public health crisis that has ever been experienced here.”
He said Ireland was in virtual lockdown, business had ground to a halt and citizens were in fear and despite all of that, Blunnie gave terrible abuse to “these two decent men” of the ambulance service.
Judge Durcan stated in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic “ambulance service personnel were laying their lives on the line day in and day out to assist people who were genuinely ill”.
DRUNKEN
He added that in her drunken, selfish stupor, Blunnie had an ambulance sent for her.
Blunnie told the crew “I have the virus” and coughed in their direction at a time when the country was in high alert and high fear, the judge told the hearing.
He added Blunnie – who has 43 previous convictions – “has an appalling record”.
Sgt Lonergan stated Blunnie “smirked” after coughing in the direction of the two paramedics. The accused denied this. Blunnie told the court previously, “it was just a joke, I didn’t mean to do it,” and later added: “I don’t have the virus.”
Sgt Lonergan told the judge the ambulance crew were called to the address in response to a call concerning Blunnie’s state of intoxication and she was being treated by the paramedics in the back of the emergency vehicle.
Defence solicitor Monica Roche told the court her client sincerely apologised to the paramedics and gardai for her actions.
Ms Roche added: “Ms Blunnie accepts it was very serious in the light of the current pandemic and she regrets her actions and never meant to cause any harm.
“She accepts that she did cause great distress to people who were only doing their job.”
Ms Roche stated that Blunnie was highly intoxicated on the night.
Rebecca Blunnie at Ennis Court