Womanjailed afterspreeof offending

A 23-year-old woman who went on a spree of offending in Omeath and Carlingford earlier this year has been jailed for six months.

Inez Santana, Dolmen House, Omeath, pleaded guilty to 18 charges and one summons relating to incidents which all bar one occurred between January 26 and February 20 last.

Most of the criminality related to keying of cars and thefts from shops, and the court heard that the defendant was well-liked in Omeath though people had become scared of her.

Sgt John Brady gave evidence that on November 4, 2022, at Station Road she used a knife to damage Christmas lights and decorations belonging to Omeath Tidy Towns, at a cost of €500.

Then, on January 26, 2024, at Market Square, Carlingford, Ms Santana keyed an Audi A2 and threw a stone at a Mazda in Newry Street.

She kicked the wing mirrors of a BMW parked opposite the tourist office before kicking in the back of the legs a man who challenged her about it. No injuries occurred.

Finally, that day, she keyed a Skoda Octavia. The damage from those incidents amounted to €1,800.

Sgt Brady continued that on February 4 in Omeath, there were thefts from Mace in the afternoon and evening of a sandwich and Monster drinks.

Two weeks later the defendant kicked the wing mirrors of a jeep parked outside the Granvue Hotel, causing €300 damage, threw eggs at the front of the hotel, kicked the wing mirror of a car at Cornamucklagh, causing €100 damage, and stole coffee and croissants from Mace.

The next day, February 19, at the Top garage, Knocknagoran, she took a jar of coffee without paying and had a knife on the forecourt which she used to cut a petrol pump hose, causing €750 damage.

On the following morning, Ms Santana spray-painted the Granvue Hotel entrance which cost €300 to clean, and at Station Road she had a knife which was visible as she kicked the wing mirrors of a Nissan Qashqai. The repair bill was €1,200.

Later that day, the defendant slapped a garda in the face with her open palm at Dundalk Garda Station.

The court heard that Ms Santana has been in custody since February 21.

There were no previous convictions. A medical report was available. Solicitor Paula Tiernan put it to the sergeant that this was a spree of crime.

He said that prior to these incidents, Inez Santana was quite well-liked in the area. He was aware of her medical difficulties and that she had not been taking prescribed medication nor liaising with her doctor.

Sgt Brady added that there were no services available for her in Omeath. She had sourced opioids over the internet.

The defendant’s mother needed ‘to step up to the plate’ but that was not happening. Ms Santana had been staying in a flat on her own.

There would be Garda concerns if she was back in Omeath.

Ms Tiernan said that her client was unwell and had no family support. She required medical assistance. She had become much more engaging since going into custody.

Judge McKiernan remarked that these were serious matters. Thousands of euro damage had been caused.

The court considered a medical report and also took into account the members of the public who had been affected, and the pleas of guilty.

Judge McKiernan said nothing was appropriate other than a custodial sentence.

Consecutive two-month terms were imposed on three of the charges, back-dated to when Ms Santana went into custody.

Other charges were taken into consideration.