Drunk woman causing disturbance in Cork gave name and address of innocent woman to gardaí
Said Considered She Term Jail Two It Defendant Judge Would A The Defence But A Submissions, Initially, Longer Following Month Imposed Sentence The Suspend But She Giving
A young Galway woman causing a drunken disturbance in Cork City identified herself to gardaí with the name and address of another Galway woman — an offence described as nasty by the sentencing judge.
20-year-old Sinead O’Brien, of 77 An Sean Bhaile, Doughiska, Galway, appeared at Cork District Court where she pleaded guilty to giving gardaí a false name and address and being drunk and a source of danger to herself or others at the time.
Judge Mary Dorgan said: “The court is very concerned that she gave the name and address of a lady who was then implicated in this but knew nothing about it, which was an aggravating matter.
“It was a nasty matter — giving false details to the guards on the day. People need to cooperate with the guards and behave themselves and I need to take a view of it.”
Initially, Judge Dorgan considered giving the defendant a two-month jail term. Following defence submissions from solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher, Judge Dorgan said she would imposed a longer sentence but suspend it.
The four-month suspended sentence will not be activated unless she gets into further difficulties in the future.
The behaviour that gave rise to the case occurred on June 8, 2023, on Oliver Plunkett Street.
Sergeant Gearóid Davis said gardaí met a person with Sinead O’Brien and both of them were involved in an argument with another person at the scene.
She identified herself to gardaí under the name and address of another woman in Galway who was nowhere near this incident in Cork.
The defendant was arrested and it later transpired her details were incorrect.
Mr Kelleher said: “She is just 20 years of age. She had become slightly estranged from her family. Now in good stead with her father and with her partner. She was homeless and drinking a lot when this occurred.”
As well as the suspended sentence for the false information, Sinead O’Brien was also fined €200 for being drunk and a danger.