Portlaoise Court: Woman gets 24 hours’ B&B in Mountjoy jail
Portlaoise Courthouse
A WOMAN who had been given an eight-month prison sentence on Monday 14 July was released 24 hours later and appeared back before Portlaoise District Court last Thursday 17 July.
On the Monday, Sarah Cloherty from Apartment 2, Cosgrove’s B&B, 40 Oliver Plunkett Street, Mullingar was sentenced to two months in prison, when she was convicted of obstructing a garda, being intoxicated and engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Portlaoise hospital on 5 June.
She was also sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for the theft of a bottle of wine costing €8 from Mulhall’s SuperValu, Lyster Square, Portlaoise on 9 July, with both sentences to run concurrently.
Last Thursday, she was back before the court charged with being intoxicated in a public place and engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour on 27 June at James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise.
Noting that the 38-year old defendant was back before the court so soon, Judge Andrew Cody commented: “She got 10 months on Monday and was released on Wednesday. She got 24 hours’ free B&B.” Defending barrister Anne Doyle BL said that her client had spent some time in the Dóchas Centre (Mountjoy Women’s Prison).
“She’s looking a lot better and hasn’t taken alcohol for the past week,” said the barrister.
Judge Cody noted: “She’s had 17 charges in the past two months, public order offences.”
Ms Doyle said: “They are all public order charges and relate to her chronic addiction.”
Judge Cody replied: “Stop pulling my leg with that testament to her.”
He went on to adjourn the case to the 27 July sitting of Tullamore District Court adding: “I want to see evidence of some change, if she wants to avoid another 24 hours of B&B provided to her by the State.”
