Extending Longford woman's prison term would be ‘unduly harsh’

A woman currently serving a prison term heard it would be “unduly harsh” to extend her sentence for a number of minor offences. Helen Nevin (37) of 7 Victory Court, Earl Street, Longford faced six charges.

The defendant entered a plea of guilty to the theft of alcohol and food valued at €27.48 from Lidl Dublin Road, Longford on June 23, 2022, public intoxication at Victory Court, Earl Street on September 22, 2022, engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour on August 2, 2022, and three public order offences on June 5, 22 at Main St, Longford.

Sergeant Enda Daly outlined the details of the offences to Judge John Brennan.
He told how on August 2 the defendant was observed at Earl Street walking out in front of traffic. When the Gardaí spoke to her she refused to leave the area and was “highly intoxicated”. The defendant was arrested.

On September 22, again at Victory Court, the defendant was again breaching the Public Order Act with Ms Nevin again arrested and brought to Longford Garda Station. The court heard that Ms Nevin is currently serving a sentence imposed in the Circuit Court.

Solicitor John Quinn acknowledged his client's addiction issues. “She was in a bad place with regards to alcohol, now she is in custody and off drink,” he said.

Mr Quinn said Ms Nevin “clearly has a problem with alcohol”. The solicitor said that although she has “regularly been in difficult” times and engaging in petty theft “to feed that habit”, adding her intention is to “come out of prison dry and stay dry”.

Ms Nevin is receiving counselling for addiction while in custody. Judge Brennan said the defendant is “serving a relatively lengthy sentence” adding: “Increasing it would be unduly harsh.”
He noted that Ms Nevin's partner has undertaken to give her support on her release from prison. The judge registered a conviction and sentenced Ms Nevin to four months in custody concurrent to the sentence she is serving.