Woman (44) assaulted two workers

A 44-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to assaulting two staff members at a town centre restaurant has been warned she must come back before Dundalk court with a ‘glowing report’ from the probation service.

Otherwise, Frances McCarthy will be going to the Dóchas Centre women’s prison in Mountjoy, Judge Gerry Jones said.

The defendant, of 35 Bóthar na Feirme, Blackrock Road, also admitted being intoxicated in a public place and engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, arising out of an incident at the Europa Restaurant, Earl Street, on 7 February last.

Sgt Fintan McGroder gave evidence that a member of the public approached gardaí on patrol and asked them to go to the restaurant where a woman was refusing to leave.

Later, a call was made from the Europa about this person who was refusing to leave the premises having received her food.

Gardaí saw Frances McCarthy get into a taxi. She got out when asked but was highly abusive to the officer and refused to co-operate.

She had earlier been very abusive to staff in the restaurant. She assaulted a lady and was removed by a man.

She then punched this woman again in the stomach and the back of the head and punched the male a number of times.

Her victims didn’t attend a doctor. Photographs of their injuries were handed into court.

Sgt McGroder said the two people are aware of the court case but did not want to attend. Frances McCarthy has no previous convictions. Her solicitor Niall Breen added she is a single mother of two and originally from the Castleblayney area. She left school at 16 and has lived in Dundalk for 23 years.

She has worked with the homeless.

The defendant is deeply embarrassed by her actions. She lost her sister prior to this incident, and took it badly, suffering from depression.

McCarthy apologises and has €250 compensation which is all she can raise at the moment, Mr Breen continued.

The defendant took to the witness stand to apologise to the guard and the two people she assaulted. She added she had already phoned to apologise to all parties.

‘I’ve certainly learned my lesson.’ Judge Jones directed a probation report for 16 January, 2019.

‘ This type of behaviour cannot be tolerated.’ He also wanted a further €250 compensation in court the next day.