Woman who owes €1,500 over Laois assault denies being in Tenerife earlier this year

A woman who hadn’t paid compensation following an assault in Portlaoise denied travelling to Tenerife on holiday. 

Maeve Burke (28) of 13 Cherrygarth, Portlaoise, was due to pay compensation after a woman was assaulted at Soho nightclub in Portlaoise on July 28, 2019. 

She was brought before Portlaoise District Court on foot of a warrant where Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby explained that the victim had attended court on the previous occasion. He said  €1,500 in compensation was outstanding. 

Andrew Dunne BL said “that is not a sum that is present in court.” He said his client was a woman of little or no means. 

Sgt Kirby said he believed the woman had been in Tenerife earlier in the year. The woman denied having been in Tenerife. 

Judge Susan Fay said “there is not a red cent for this victim in court today five years later.” The woman said she could get about €100 or €150. Judge Fay said the woman appeared to have a blasé approach to the matter. 

Judge Fay said the country was in full employment and she asked her if she had been looking for work. The woman said she had and she produced emails on her phone to indicate she had been looking for a job. 

Judge Fay adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on December 15 in order for the woman to come up with some compensation.