Inmate further jailed for attack on officer in women's prison

A 39-year-old woman from Granard, County Longford, has been sentenced to twelve months in prison following an assault on a prison officer at the Dochas Centre in Mountjoy Prison on 29 September 2021. Stephanie Martin pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Martin grabbed food aggressively from the officer, placed her in a headlock, and pulled her hair, causing significant injury. The officer required hospital treatment and subsequently took a year off work, reporting ongoing anxiety and trauma. Judge Orla Crowe noted the seriousness of assaulting an officer in the course of duty and Martin's twenty-two previous convictions. However, the judge considered mitigating factors including Martin's early guilty plea, apology, and remorse. Martin has not come to garda attention since the incident. The headline sentence was set at eighteen months before reduction to twelve months.