Woman obstructed Gardai

A 24-year-old woman who got involved with Gardai while they were trying to deal with an incident in Dundalk on a busy St Patrick’s night was arrested after she obstructed them.

Emily Carolan, Irishgrange, Carlingford, admitted public order offences which arose following an incident in Park Street in the early hours of March 18. Gardai said the night had been very busy and at around 2.30am, they were dealing with a report of an unconscious man outside a bar when, as they were escorting a woman to the patrol car, Carolan tried to obstruct them. She hit a Garda twice on the cheek and on the chin but he was not injured.

Solicitor Peter Lavery said his client was drunk on the evening, but she has not taken a drink since and has moved from Dundalk because she was ‘mixing with the wrong crowd’.

Carolan had apologised to Gardai and this had been accepted by them and the defendant was ‘very embarrassed to be before the court. She wrongly thought her friend was being restrained by Gardai and ‘came to her aid’, which was, Mr Lavery said, ‘a foolish thing to do’. She didn’t hit the officer with great force.

After hearing Carolan has no previous convictions, Judge Brennan told her: ‘Mind your drinking in future and make sure you are not in trouble again’ and dismissed the charges. 28 2014.

Leigh Kearney (21), of the same address, is charged with having cannabis for sale or supply on the same date.

Both men were sent forward, on bail in their own bonds of €1,000, for trial at the circuit court on January 10. Both were granted legal aid. to March 15.