In Claremorris District Court this week Judge Mary Devins suspended her judgement until October 28 on a woman who punched a garda in the face, for a probation report to be completed on her.
Josephine McDonagh, 8 Hollow Grove, Castlebar pleaded guilty to assaulting the Garda on July 31 2008 at 12.15am. The court was told that on the date in question a call was received by the gardaí in relation to a domestic disturbance at a house in Claremorris. Garda Donal Kelly and Garda Donal Raftery were dispatched to the scene. While they were there Josephine McDonagh came up to Garda Kelly and said, “I have this for you” and punched Garda Kelly with a closed fist straight in the face. Solicitor for McDonagh Aidan Crowley told the court that, “There is no disputing the facts, my client is a 22-year-old settled member of the Travelling community. She was very drunk when this happened, her mother has apologised to the Garda and my client hoped to do the same herself today, but Garda Kelly is not here. I have explained to her that she is facing a very serious charge here today”.
Judge Mary Devins told the court: “I don’t care how much you had to drink, you don’t have the right to hit any person at all.” She adjourned sentencing until October 28 for the completion of a probation report.
