Three healthcare workers jailed for obstruction and public order offences

SENTENCING in the cases of three healthcare workers charged with obstruction and public order offences was recently directed by Judge Sandra Murphy at Tubbercurry District Court.

The charges arose out of incidents at a supermarket car park and the garda station in Tubbercurry.

The judge sentenced Ms Tanya Dube (40), of 13 Owenmore Drive, Collooney, to two months in prison for obstructing a peace officer at Surlis’ car park, Teeling Street, Tubbercurry, and for failure to comply with the direction of a member of An Garda Síochána (Sergeant John J Walsh) on January 24, 2021, she received twomonths in prison – to run consecutively. Having read the probation report, the judge took into consideration Ms Dube had taken no responsibility for her actions saying she didn’t consider her a suitable candidate for community service as the probation services felt she would have difficulty with it. She said she viewed the CCTV footage of the incident in a case which was fully contested by the defendant and deemed it a very serious incident in relation to Sergeant Walsh. Considering everything, in her view it was “an extremely serious offence” and she was satisfied the sentences were proportionate and would be consecutive. In relation to Mr Tinos Makondo (43), of 6 Springvale, Tubbercurry, Judge Murphy said he was a passenger in the back of the car, had accepted responsibility for his actions and was at a moderate risk of re-offending.

She sentenced him to two months in prison for obstructing a peace officer and for failure to comply with the direction of a member of An Garda Síochána. He also received a two months prison sentence – to run concurrently.

In relation to Ms Zandile Nkomo (46), of 63 Springvale, Tubbercurry, she noted the garda support unit had to come from Ballymote to Tubbercurry to attend the incident, and the defendant jumped on the counter at the station and recorded the incident on her mobile phone.

The probation report had said she had shown no insight or remorse nor accepted her offending in any way – Ms Nkomo had said she would appeal the decision and felt she had done nothing wrong.

The judge sentenced Ms Nkomo to tw months in prison for each of the charges of obstruction and failure to comply with the direction of a member of An Garda Síochána at Surlis’ car park, and also for the public order charge at Tubbercurry garda station – to run consecutively. Defending solicitor for Ms Dube and Ms Nkomo, Mr Tom MacSharry, said both of his clients would be appealing the decision, as did Mr Morgan Coleman, who was defending Mr Makondo. The judge set a €250 surety, €250 own bond and €250 cash for each of the defendants.