Woman given extra 12 months in prison after attempting to bite and headbutt garda

"The defendant, who is aged in her 40s, pleaded guilty to all matters before Tallaght District Court, where Judge Patricia McNamara noted there were "a lot" of matters before her. The new terms will run consecutively to the custodial sentence the woman has been serving since September 2025. The current offending, the court heard, spanned from early 2023 into late 2024 and involved repeated incidents where the defendant was found intoxicated, abusive or causing disturbances on her residential road."

"Defence counsel said that their client is the full-time carer for her mother, who has dementia, and has struggled to remain in residential addiction treatment because she is regularly called home to look after her mother. Judge McNamara said she accepted this but was "really disappointed" that the defendant hasn't been able to "find anywhere she can deal with her addictions to alcohol". The judge remarked that the woman came before her "years back" and described her as someone with "great potential and good qualifications," adding that the situation was "such a shame"."

"She said she was fully satisfied that the bulk of the offending happened outside the woman's own home, but stressed that "the neighbours are victims here too", as gardaED were repeatedly called to the same street late at night, "at all hours", only to be met with intoxication and abuse. This, she said, was "taking up the time of An Garda SEDochE1na" and was "all being paid for by the State"."

"The most serious incident before the court occurred on 13 February 2023, at around 5.31pm, when gardaED were called to the woman's home and found her highly intoxicated. She became aggressive and attempted to bite and headbutt Garda Conor Lavin, though neither attempt succeeded. Judge McNamara imposed a five-month sentence on this count."

A woman in her 40s pleaded guilty to multiple charges at Tallaght District Court and will serve new terms consecutively to a custodial sentence she has been serving since September 2025. The offending occurred from early 2023 into late 2024 and involved repeated incidents of intoxication, abusive behaviour and disturbances on her residential road. Defence counsel said she is the full-time carer for her mother with dementia and has struggled to remain in residential addiction treatment due to caregiving calls. The judge expressed disappointment that she had been unable to address alcohol addictions, noted neighbouring residents were victims of repeated late-night disturbances, and said Garda resources were being consumed. The most serious incident involved attempts to bite and headbutt a garda, attracting a five-month sentence on that count.

Read at Irish Independent