Judge adjourns pub assault case for psychological report

A WOMAN who used a glass during an assault in a Wexford pub has had sentencing adjourned to allow for the preparation of a psychological report.

Lyndsey Forde, of 35 Hazelwood, Bridgetown, came before Wexford Circuit Criminal Court on a plea of guilty to assaulting Kayleigh Cullen at the Centenary Stores, in Charlotte Street on May 10, 2015.

When the case was called before Judge Cormac Quinn for sentencing, Defence Counsel, Jordan Fletcher applied for an adjournment to allow for the preparation of a psychological report. He said that the defendant had attended Summerhill Mental Health Services for some three years.

Prosecuting Counsel Sinead Gleeson, said she opposed the application.

Mr. Fletcher said the medical records show that the defendant, a single mother with four children, has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and at the time of the offence was under mental health treatment. He said that a psychological report is needed.

Judge Cormac Quinn said his understanding of Mr Fletcher’s request was that the report was needed to show more mitigating circumstances, but he said that everything before the court showed that the defendant used a glass in an entirely unprovoked attack, causing serious injury to an unsuspecting victim, a crime which warrants a custodial sentence.

Mr. Fletcher said that would strengthen his application for such a report. He said that his client only pleaded at the end of February and that it was in the interests of justice that such an application is granted.

Ms Gleeson pointed out that the case goes back to 2015 and that there was a plea of guilty on January 4. She said the injured party had come to court with her mother.

Ms Gleeson said the Probation and Welfare report before the court was very comprehensive.

The defendant was on depression medication and had drunk vodka on the night. She could not say why she attacked the girl, only that she did it. There had been no contact with this girl prior to the assault.

Judge Quinn said he himself had not heard the evidence in this case. He had read the Probation report before the court and a further report could advance more serious mitigating circumstances. Because of the seriousness of the case, he said he would adjourn the matter to allow for a Forensic Psychologist report.

He adjourned the case for mention to June 27.