A judge refused to allow a young woman off the remainder of a community sentence order after she claimed she was pregnant.
“I want medical reports, or you’ll go to jail,” said Judge Seamus Hughes to Amanda Ring (21 ), from Thornbury Drive, Athlone.
Ring was before the court this week (January 2 ) after pleading guilty last year to a raft of theft and drug offences committed in 2011.
In June she was given 240 hours of community service instead of a jail sentence, but in court this week the Probation Service sought to have Ring jailed for her continued non-compliance with this order, with more than 30 hours still outstanding.
Her solicitor, Mr Tony McLynn, sought for this to be cancelled as “my client is pregnant... expecting in August”.
He told the court she had instructed him she had been “hospitalised with complications”, but didn’t have any medical records or documentation to back this up.
“I won’t comment on my own personal knowledge on these matters, but I know of women who’ve worked up to two days before they give birth, and were back to work two days later, and that’s because they’re self-employed, and didn’t have the benefit of maternity leave or maternity pay,” said Judge Hughes.
“I won’t accept this, Mr McLynn,” said the judge, before he adjourned sentencing for a week to allow Ring provide a doctor’s letter.
