Longford woman who brandished shears and damaged guesthouse ordered to pay compensation

A woman who made threatening gestures to people with garden shears and caused thousands of euro of damage to a guesthouse on separate dates has been ordered to pay compensation and fined.

Deirdre Conway (45), of 43 Springlawn, Longford, pleaded guilty at a sitting of the local district court to being in possession of a garden shears at Springlawn on May 12 last.

She also faced a number of public order offence charges and a criminal damage at Apartment 2, Take 2 Guesthouse, Longford to the value of €5,000 on dates in March, 2023.

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The case had been adjourned last April by Judge Bernadette Owens as she requested a victim impact statement and some form of compensation for the accommodation provider.

Conor McShane, court presenter, told the court the defendant had not came to the attention of Gardaí since the incidents.

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Defence solicitor John Quinn said his client was fully compliant with the treatment recommended for her and he submitted a medical report.

"She has done very well, she has got temporary work and she has compensation in court today for the injured party," he added.

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Judge Owens directed Conway to pay compensation of €750 to the injured party in respect of the criminal damage charge and she said if this was done she may be persuaded to apply the Probation Act.

Conway was also convicted and fined €200 for the public order offence with six months to pay.