Pregnant woman assaulted two gardaí in 'nasty incident' in the Midlands

A woman admitted assaulting two female Gardaí in a ‘nasty incident’ in Portlaoise. 

Helen Connors, 20, of 1 Kiltalown Hill, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24 admitted assaulting two female Gardaí at Marian Avenue, Portlaoise on August 9, 2021. She also admitted stealing groceries from Aldi in Portlaoise on the same date. 

Garda Sgt Derek Barnett said he was on duty at Portlaoise Garda Station when Garda Counihan and Garda O’Shea returned to the station at 8.30pm on the date in question. 

“They were visibly shaken. They were upset and they alleged that they were assaulted on Marion Avenue in Portlaoise,” he said. 

He said the gardaí informed him that they had stopped the defendant in the area and attempted to effect an arrest. 

“She allegedly pushed them, grabbed them and scratched them,” he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. Sgt Barnett said he was informed the assault had lasted a number of minutes.   

Defence solicitor Micheal Byrne said he had no questions for the witness. 

Garda Ailbhe Counihan took to the stand and explained that she had responded to an allegation of theft from Aldi in Portlaoise on the date in question. 

“A female in white pants had left the store without paying for a number of items,” she explained. 

Garda Counihan said she travelled in the direction of the Abbeyleix Road and stopped the patrol car to speak to Ms Connors. 

She said the defendant resisted arrest and began “hitting us and kicking” before running off towards the Old Knockmay Road. 

At  Marion Ave, Garda Counihan said she caught up with the defendant. She said another attempt was made to arrest the defendant but she was “kicking us and hitting us” and “with the aid of another individual she managed to get away”. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said he was working on the evening. 

“It was a nasty incident, Judge,” he told Judge Nicola Andrews at Portlaoise District Court. 

“I am instructed to offer an apology,” said Mr Byrne.  

“She feels very, very sorry for what she did on the day in question,” said Mr Byrne. 

He explained that his client was only 17 when the incident occurred. 

Sgt Kirby said the defendant has previous convictions for road traffic offences and theft. 

“I am troubled by how she behaved on the night towards members of An Garda Siochana,” said Judge Andrews. 

Mr Byrne said his client was pregnant at the time of the offence. 

“On the ground, she instructs me, she was being manhandled,” he said. 

Sgt Kirby said “she wasn’t on the ground” during the incident.

Judge Andrews reminded Mr Byrne that his client was pleading guilty to the offence.  

“The guards are contesting the facts in relation to the arrest,” he said. 

“They said she hit out and kicked gardaí and ran off,” said Mr Byrne. 

“She fell to her knees and went to the ground,” he claimed. 

Judge Andrews asked Mr Byrne if he would like to call his client to give evidence and the defendant took the stand. 

She recalled the garda approaching and telling her she was being arrested. 

“She grabbed me by the arm and she turned me around and I fell,” said Ms Connors. 

“I fell to the ground at that point I was trying to get up,” she explained. 

“I explained to her I am pregnant,” she said. 

“This is why I felt afraid and this is why I behaved violently,” she told Judge Andrews. 

Sgt Kirby said “I have to put it to you that you didn’t fall.” 

“I did fall, I was on my knees,” she insisted. 

“The guards were acting lawfully in the course of their duty,” said Sgt Kirby. 

“I didn’t say they weren’t,” the defendant replied. 

“I was 17 at the time, I was afraid,” the woman said. 

“I felt unsafe because I wasn’t aware of what I was getting arrested for,” she said. 

Mr Byrne said his client does accept that she assaulted the two gardaí. He said there was no question that the gardaí had acted in any way but lawfully and he asked the judge to consider a probation report. 

Judge Andrews said the defendant was already the subject of a probation report. She said the woman had assaulted members of An Garda Síochana.  

“I have very little tolerance for this type of behaviour,” said Judge Andrews. 

She said she could not let the incident go unchecked. She convicted her on one count of assaulting Garda Counihan. She took the second assault charge and the theft charge into consideration. 

Judge Andrews imposed a two month sentence which she suspended for 12 months. She fixed recognisance in case of appeal.