A Dublin woman who caused a ruckus in Brown Thomas and gave arresting Gardaí a false name and address told Galway District Court that she was absolutely petrified by her seven-hour spell in a cell and had now changed her life around.
Ciara Grant (40 ) of 17 Castlekevin Apartments, Kilmore, Dublin 5 was charged under the Public Order Act. Judge Fiona Brennan was told she had five previous convictions and had been disqualified from driving in 2024 for four years and had a public order conviction from 2003.
The court heard that Gardaí were summoned to Brown Thomas on November 28 last to deal with a woman who was acting in a threatening manner towards staff.
She gave Gardaí a false name and address and this showed up when they checked her details. She said her name was Cooper and the address she gave didn’t exist, the judge was informed.
Gary McDonald BL pleaded that his client was in remission from cancer and while being treated her life spiralled out of control with drink and drugs, but she was now clean and doing well.
Judge Brennan put the case back to allow Gardaí to ascertain whether the name and address she now gave were correct.
When the case was recalled the defendant said she had spent seven hours in a cell after her arrest in Brown Thomas and she was “absolutely petrified” by the experience.
However, she now had her life back together, even though she was off the road following her driving disqualification. She said she was never in trouble in her life before but went through a difficult three-year period following her diagnosis but she was now getting on with things, working and busy.
“I am sorry, I really am. I feel like crying. I am crying,” she told the court. Judge Brennan adjourned matters until the July 13 sitting of the court and told the defendant that if she didn’t come to Garda attention in the intervening period she would strike out the charge. However, if she got into any more trouble she would receive a conviction and fine of €250.
“By the way,” Ms Grant informed all as she left, “one of those convictions was only for a face mask thing.”
This article is funded by Comisiún na Meán.
