Woman had ‘meltdown’ and called gardaí ‘pigs’ when stopped in Laois

A woman called gardaí ‘pigs’ and told them to drop dead after being pulled over in Portlaoise. 

Mary Ellen Carty (28) of 12 Farrencooley Crescent, Bishopsland, Kildare, appeared in court accused of engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Dublin Road, Portlaoise on September 21, 2022. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the woman was stopped while driving a Ford Mondeo on the Dublin Road at 1.20pm. He told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the tax was expired and the car was seized and the woman became abusive and called gardaí “pigs”.  

“She said to both members, may you drop dead,” Sgt Kirby said. He said the woman had 34 previous convictions. 

Solicitor Michael Byrne said his client was pleading guilty. He explained that she was sick with pneumonia at the time she was pulled over and another car had previously been taken from her. He said the woman was acting out of “illness and frustration” and “just had a meltdown”. 

“She is very, very sorry for what happened,” said Mr Byrne. 

Judge Susan Fay fined the woman €450 and gave her three months to pay.