Woman was drunk and abusive in Laois

A woman appeared in court for being drunk and abusive  in Portarlington. 

Angela Donovan, 58, of  3 Maisonettes, Crow Lane, Portarlington admitted to the offences at Main Street, Portarlington on December 3, 2023.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was drunk on a footpath and had a cut to her head at 1.40am on the date in question. She refused medical assistance and became abusive and had to be arrested, he explained. 

He said the defendant had 28 previous convictions. 

“A lot of them are a long time ago,” he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was pleading guilty.

“She suffers from PTSD as a result of abuse at the hands of her ex partner,” she said. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the woman was aware of an outstanding arrest warrant for her partner. She said the woman was cross because the gardai were arresting her and not her ex partner.

She said the woman had brought €100 from her disability allowance to court. She said the woman had contacted gardai to apologise after the incident. 

Judge Andrew Cody ordered the €100 to be donated to the St Vincent de Paul. He imposed a one month sentence which he suspended for two years.