Judge comments on 'racist tone' after woman in Tullamore told man to burn the Quran

A woman who spoke about burning the Quran asked Gardai why they were stopping her as she was Irish.

The incident happened on September 5, 2023 when Dolores Wogan (56) of 19, Millcourt, Greenmill Lane, Portlaoise was intoxicated, was threatening and abusive and used insulting words to a member of the public at Cormac's Street, Tullamore, telling a man to burn the Quran.

She also refused to give Garda Andrew Barron her name and address

Solicitor Donal Farrelly said there was another man involved. Sergeant Richard Thornton agreed that the accuser had said 'they' when making the complaint.

Mr Farrelly described Ms Wogan as a 56 year old woman who has difficulty with alcohol. She has three grown up children.

Judge Andrew Cody said there was a racist tone to her statements about burning the Quran and 'I'm Irish'.

Mr Farrelly said she had never been in trouble before. He handed in a letter on her behalf to the judge.

Having read it Judge Cody said ''she can ill afford to be getting into this type of bother.''

He fined her €200 for threatening and abusive behaviour and took the charge of being intoxicated into consideration.