Courts / Dublin / Report
Mother who punched store detective avoids prison
Summary
Janina Griskevica, 54, pleaded guilty in Swords District Court to assaulting store detective David Ellison, possessing a pocket knife, and stealing nearly €50 from Woodies DIY on 25 August. She claimed the knife was for work and that she had no intention to steal, saying she panicked after losing her wallet and thought it was in the shop's toilet. Garda Noel Callan testified that Griskevica punched Ellison when he tried to retrieve the items and that she attempted to take the knife from her pocket when handcuffed. Griskevica had no prior convictions. Judge Alan Mitchell sentenced her to two months for each offence – assault, theft and possession of a knife – and suspended each for six months, ordering €1,000 in compensation. The case concluded with the suspended sentences and no custodial term imposed.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mother who punched store detective avoids prison. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 25th Incident
- 2013-11-12 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Store detective Mr Ellison told the court "she bit into my left shoulder and I wasn't able to hold my baby for a while." Judge Alan Mitchell handed Griskevica a two month sentence which he suspended for six months for assaulting Mr Ellison and made a compensation order for €1,000. He also handed Griskevica a two month sentence which he suspended for six months for theft and a two month sentence suspended for six months for possession of a knife.
Places mentioned
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Stardust survivor left 'aghast' at government redress scheme
- Bulgarian national stole €11k from heavily pregnant woman just one week after arrival in Ireland
- 'Far from peripheral' - Regency getaway drivers fail to have sentences reduced
- Hapless robber dropped phone, cash at raid scenes
- Regency getaway drivers say prison sentences were too high
- Dealer who told mother he'd get 'junkies' to rape her son over drug debt gets 10 years
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request