Woman warned to pay compensation or face jail for Portlaoise assault

A woman who assaulted a man in Laois warned she would be jailed if compensation wasn’t paid. 

Meagan  Fearon, 24, of Bavan, Omeath, Co Louth is accused of assaulting a man at Market Square, Portlaoise on May 23, 2022. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had paid some of the compensation but the balance was due. 

Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said €1,500 had  been paid leaving an outstanding balance of €1,000. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the woman had recently suffered a bad fall. She said her mother was going to help her pay the balance of the compensation. 

Judge Andrew Cody said “this young man was hit and kicked multiple times.” 

Ms Fitzpatrick said it had been accepted that her client had played a lesser role in the assault. 

“He was pushed and punched by her,” she said. 

Judge Cody remanded the case back to Portlaoise District Court on January 5. He said if the balance wasn’t paid in full on that date the woman would be jailed for three months.