Woman smashed glass panel in Portlaoise bar 

A woman admitted smashing a glass panel in a bar in Portlaoise, possessing drugs and a public order offence. 

Amy Byrne(28) with an address at 21 Goldencroft, Station Street, Portlaoise and former addresses Flat 5 and 1 Whitehorse Lodge, Mountrath, pleaded guilty at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant had responded to a call about the defendant causing criminal damage at Vibe Bar, Main Street, Portlaoise on December 29, 2022 at 10.20pm. He said the woman had caused damage to a glass panel at the bar valued at €300. 

On May 24, 2022, Sgt Kirby said the defendant “was disorderly and verbally abused gardai” at Shannon Street, Mountrath at 11.50pm. 

Sgt Kirby said the woman’s address in Mountrath was searched under warrant and €300 of cannabis was found along with €7 of Xanax on September 4, 2021. He said the woman had two previous convictions which he said were of a minor nature.

Judge Susan Fay asked whether an effort had been made to pay the €300 in damages. Sgt Kirby said there had not.  

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was pleading guilty to the offences. 

“These matters seem to be of some vintage,” he said. 

Mr Fitzgerald said his client had some issues with intoxicants but “she seems to be in a much better place now.” 

“I don’t think she has come to garda attention since,” he stated. 

Judge Fay noted the glass was  broken at the bar over the busy holiday period.  “I would like to see her gather the money,” she told Mr Fitzgerald. 

She said the probation service had referred the women to the Alternative Project.  

“She has engaged fully with probation services,” Mr Fitzgerald said. 

Judge Fay put the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on September 22 for compensation. “I want to see that she has completed whatever the alternative project put her to,” she said.