A woman well known to Gardaí had to be physically removed from on top of another female she was in an altercation with in full public view during rush hour at Eyre Square, Galway District Court heard. Her solicitor told the Court his client, who has 196 previous convictions, got on well in the prison environment.
Before Judge Fiona Lydon was Marie McCarthy (no fixed abode ) charged with a series of offences, including thefts from Brown Thomas, Lidl, Morton’s and Tesco. She pleaded guilty to seven theft offences in all and one public order offence.
The Eyre Square incident occurred on February 24 last during the evening rush hour. A group of intoxicated people including the defendant had congregated there and Gardaí were alerted. When they arrived McCarthy was involved in an altercation and Garda found the defendant lying on top of another woman and had to remove her.
Michael Cunningham solr (defending ) said that his client was 52 and well known to the Court. She had a tragic past and had been a victim herself.
She had periods of sobriety and the Simon Community and Cope had tried to help her. Through her own doing, she had lost access to the accommodation provided and ended up homeless and sleeping rough on the streets for two and a half years.
Though she obviously had her issues and had a tough life she was always very polite and mannerly in her dealings, and always held her hand up to charges, Mr Cunningham said.
He added that she was attempting to deal with her alcohol problem and that she got on well in the prison environment. He hoped she could find suitable accommodation when she was released again.
Judge Lydon noted the defendant was on remand for other matters and she sentenced McCarthy to six months and a further two consecutive months for offending while on bail, adding that this was no way to behave at a busy time of the day at a busy bus stop.
