Peacebondfor sixmonths

A 50-year-old woman who attempted to gain entry to the court while it was in session in order to speak to the judge, ended up being arrested for public order offences.

Linda Gernon, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to charges arising out of that and other incidents last October and November.

Evidence was given that at 2.40pm on 9 October last at Dundalk district court the defendant tried to get into the courtroom. She said she wanted to speak to the judge.

She was “highly intoxicated” and shouting loudly, and then became abusive to members of the public.

On 20 October Gernon caused a disturbance in Clanbrassil Street. Gardaí were alerted at 10pm. She became abusive to the guards and acted aggressively towards other people at the scene.

Six days later, at 10.54pm at Windmill Road, Drogheda, she was staggering on the footpath outside the Lourdes Hospital. She stumbled onto the road and was abusive to gardaí.

The court also heard that at 8.30pm on 11 November in Oakland Park, the defendant was causing a disturbance. She was “extremely intoxicated”, abusive and threatening to gardaí, and was kicking out of officers. She refused to leave the scene.

Sgt McGroder added there are 21 previous convictions for offences of a similar nature.

Solicitor Peter Lavery said his client is in desperate circumstances. She resides in the Simon Community and sometimes sleeps rough. She is severely addicted to alcohol. Judge Owens imposed a six-month peace bond on a charge of failing to comply with the direction of a garda, taking other charges into consideration.