Sisters in the Midlands fined for breach of the Public Order Act

A heavily pregnant mother and her sister who breached the peace by shouting at another person in the wake of an attack on her sister was fined €300 at Longford District Court.

Margaret Ward, of 23 Palace Crescent, Longford and her sister Winnie Ward, also with an address of 23 Palace Crescent, Longford, were on Longford's Main Street on Monday, February 21, 2022 in a bid to “come to the rescue” of their sister.

Both women were charged with engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour arising from their intervention. Sergeant Mark Mahon outlined details of the incident which led to the arrest of the sisters at 4:15 on that afternoon.

Officers on mobile patrol responded to an altercation on Longford town's Main Street. One person had been arrested and another was leaving the scene on foot when the defendants jumped out of a red Ford Focus and started shouting.

Sgt Mahon said a number of members of the public looked on as the defendants engaged in a shouting match. The sergeant confirmed that neither sister had any previous convictions.

Solicitor Brid Mimnagh, representing both of the defendants, explained that her clients' sister was attacked just before the incident. Ms Mimnagh said the Wards were “coming to the rescue” of their sister.

The legal representative said Margaret was “heavily pregnant at the time” and had been deeply upset by the attack on her sister. She said the behaviour was uncharacteristic of the mother of three.

Taking the facts of the case into consideration Judge Bernadette Owens imposed a fine of €300 on each of the defendants giving them five months to pay.