Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for woman who spat at gardai and said she 'had the virus'

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2021, Erika Gould, 36, pleaded guilty to assaulting three gardaí in Dundrum on 1 June 2020. The court heard that Gould, after a traffic cone was thrown into the Garda Station car park, threw a bottle of wine at officers, spat and kicked them as they attempted to restrain her, and spat on Garda Brian Hennessy's stomach. She also called a sergeant a "prick" and a "fucking arsehole" and claimed she "had the virus" while trying to spit on officers. A doctor later confirmed she was not ill. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Gould to 18 months' imprisonment, suspended all but five months, and ordered a year's supervision by the Probation Service. The court noted her 118 previous convictions and her abstinence from alcohol for five months prior to the offence. The case was referred for appeal with extended legal aid.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for woman who spat at gardai and said she 'had the virus'. Charges or matters: assault on three gardaí in Dundrum, Dublin, on June 1, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 1, 2020 Incident
• 2021-06-09 Publication

Why: The officers were not able to mask her with a spit hood because of how she was lashing out, Det Sgt O'Connor said. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

Related court reports

• 'Outrageous': solicitors 'don't get to instruct the court', judge says
• Burglar claimed he was a plumber when confronted by security
• 'Shoes on her mind' - Judge rejects thief's claim she was distracted by funeral arrangements
• Personal trainer at female-only gym jailed for assaulting girlfriend
• Judge refuses jurisdiction in case of woman accused of biting friend after taking 'fast gas'
• Judge rejects claim that ADHD caused motorist to jump carpark barrier

Read the original CNI report