Glass aimed at woman, struck garda on hand

A 56-year-old woman admitted assaulting a member of An Garda Síochána after she called the gardaí to her home.

Geraldine Kilkullen of 26, The Dunes, Enniscrone appeared before Sligo District Court where she pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Mary Tighe at the above address.

A charge of assault on a female was struck out, along with a charge of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour was also struck out.

Garda Tighe told the court she and Garda Ronan O’Donnell attended the house at 9.20am where there were five to six others present.

The garda said a woman was upstairs in the house very upset and Killcullen wanted this woman removed from the house.

The garda said as a result of what the other woman had told gardaí, another investigation was launched and medical attention was sought for her.

Garda Tighe said Kilcullen tried to get towards the other woman on the landing upstairs and the two gardaí had to stand in the middle to prevent this.

The court was told Kilcullen had a glass of what the garda believed to be vodka.

Kilcullen attempted to throw the glass at the other female and hit Garda Tighe’s right hand and as a result she sustained a bruised and swollen hand.

The garda said Kilcullen was under the influence of alcohol but had nothing to do with what the other woman had alleged when gardaí attended the house.

Representing Kilcullen, Ms Laura Spellman, solicitor said the incident happened in a confined area and it was not her client’s intention to strike the garda with the glass.

Garda Tighe said she accepted that was the case.

Ms Spellman told the court Kilcullen had rang gardaí to remove parties from the house and was very apologetic about what had happened.

The court heard Kilcullen had 83 previous convictions.

Kilcullen told the court the woman had made allegations at her house that were not true and had hit one of her friends.

Judge Kevin Kilrane told her she was ‘out of her mind on drink’ on incident date.

Asked if she had a problem with alcohol, Kilcullen told the judge she only has ‘a few’ at weddings and christenings.

Judge Kevin Kilrane adjourned the matter until November 5 th next.

The judge told Kilcullen if she does not reoffend in the interim he will convict and fine her €200 at the next court sitting.

However, the judge warned her that if she does re offend she will go to prison.