Three teens assaulted in centre of Offaly town by woman 'not in her right mind'

A WOMAN “wasn't in her right mind” when she attacked three teenagers in Tullamore town centre earlier this month, the local District Court was told.

Consecutive prison sentences of six months each were imposed on Nikita Ring (31), no fixed abode, Tullamore, after she pleaded guilty to a number of offences.

Along with the assaults, a breach of the peace, public drunkenness and theft on January 10 last, Ms Ring also admitted stealing a mobile phone at a pharmacy in Tullamore on October 31, 2024.

The court was told that when she was charged and cautioned in relation to the incident on January 10 she replied that she “vaguely remembered” and “couldn't remember”.

The court heard that at 6pm on January 10 Ms Ring was arrested for public drunkenness outside Zambrero, Bridge Street, Tullamore.

Three parents of the teenagers then gave statements to gardai about hair pulling, boxes and kicks and CCTV identified Ms Ring.

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The attack was described as “frenzied” but no one was hurt, Judge Andrew Cody heard.

The accused woman was shouting and screaming and grabbed a female teenager by the hair, struck a male a box in the face and grabbed another male by the neck and pushed him.

On the same date at Dolan's pharmacy in the Bridge Centre she stole a perfume set valued at €66.33 and was also identified on CCTV for that offence.

Ms Ring had 77 previous convictions and 45 of those were for theft, six for breaches of the Public Order Act, three for assault and three for drugs offences.

The court heard that the offence in 2024 involved Ms Ring entering the Tullamore Boots pharmacy and going to see a pharmacist for a consultation.

The woman then picked up the pharmacist's phone, which was a Samsung worth €200, and ran out the door with it.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told Judge Cody that the latest offences had triggered a nine-month suspended sentence for possession of knives which had previously been imposed on the woman.

Her legal representative, David Nugent, BL, said Ms Ring had a long history of drug abuse and on the evening of the recent Tullamore offences she had taken some drugs and wasn't in her right mind.

She now wished to get herself into a treatment programme and rebuild her life. She had no memory of the incident.

Judge Cody was also told the defendant was brought to hospital afterwards when she had become unresponsive because of the drugs she took.

Mr Nugent said his client was aware it could never happen again and also knew she had reached the lowest point of her life.

Imposing the two six-month sentences, the judge said it was “particularly nasty” of the accused to steal the mobile phone after being given a personal consultation in the pharmacy.

He said the assaults on the teenagers were also “nasty”.

The suspended sentence will be considered at the Criminal Courts of Justice on February 4 next.

Mr Nugent indicated that the prison sentences will not be appealed and said Ms Ring, who was on legal aid, was grateful to the court.