Woman accused of assaulting gardaí

A Dublin woman battling alcohol and mental health issues and who is accused of assaulting three gardaí following a skirmish at Longford Garda Station earlier this month, has been told she is a “fine person” behind it all.

Ciara O’Riordan, of 5 Kingston Hall, Harolds Grange Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18 appeared for a second time in the space of two weeks at last Tuesday’s sitting of Longford District Court. The 42-year-old had been remanded in custody the week previously after details relating to an incident at Longford Train Station, Convent Road, Longford was heard.

That resulted in Ms O’Riordan’s arrest and subsequent transferral to Longford Garda Station where the alleged assaults on three members of Longford Gardaí occurred.She was consequently denied bail and remanded in custody for a week by Judge Seamus Hughes.

Upon her reappearance last week, Ms O’Riordan, who was sporting a pink jacket and blue jeans, handed a letter into Judge Hughes. Though the contents of the letter were not read out, Judge Hughes asked what Ms O’Riordan was doing to try and curb her drinking habit.

The Dubliner, in response, said she was attending an agency called Smart Recovery and explained how the service was an alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

“I’m going twice a week and I see a psychiatrist,” she said.

After reading her letter, Judge Hughes said he was quite satisfied that Ms O’Riordan was a respectable person who had just lost her way.

“My view is if this girl stuck to her medical regime she would be fine,” he said.

“Self medicating and drink makes you manic and increases your depressive episodes.”

In passing on those observations to Ms O’Riordan, he told her much of the difficulties she now found herself in was self inflicted.

“You will be under the control of the court for the foreseeable future,” he told her.

“It’s either enjoy your liberty or go into custody for six months.”

Ms O’Riordan claimed she had a victim of harassment but didn’t name her alleged assailant, saying she had rang gardaí on several occasions but to no avail.

“Gardaí won’t pay attention to anyone who is manic and incoherent at the end of a line,” replied Judge Hughes.

In saying that, the Mayo native said there was an inoffensive side to Ms O’Riordan.

“She is a fine person and she is a fine person when she acts within certain boundaries.

“It’s when she acts outside of those boundaries that she is a handful.”

The case is due to return before Longford District Court on May 7 2019.