Courts / Dublin / Report

Woman smashed Covid screen in pharmacy after row over expired prescription

Date
2025-07-30

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

On 1 April 2021, Maria Mohan, 36, of Belfry Green, Citywest, Dublin 24, entered Springfield Pharmacy in Tallaght and became agitated when informed her prescription had expired. She struck a protective Covid screen that was part of the till area, causing the entire structure to shatter and damaging cosmetics and surrounding property. The damage was estimated at €1,000, but no compensation was paid. Mohan pleaded guilty to criminal damage, possession of cannabis (from an arrest on 18 April 2019) and threatening behaviour at Tallaght Garda Station on 10 October 2023. At Tallaght District Court, Judge Patricia McNamara imposed a five‑month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for the criminal damage, and fined her €300. She was also fined €250 for the public‑order offence, both payable within five months, and entered into a peace bond. The court noted her mental‑health conditions and her engagement with a restorative justice programme.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman smashed Covid screen in pharmacy after row over expired prescription. Charges or matters: criminal damage, possession of cannabis, and threatening behaviour at a Garda station; a public order offence at Tallaght Garda Station on October 10, 2023, where she spat on the glass barrier and used threatening and abusive behaviour. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 1, 2021 Incident
April 18, 2019 Incident
October 10, 2023 Incident
2025-07-30 Publication

Case subjects

Maria Mohan

Defendant

Charges: criminal damage, possession of cannabis, and threatening behaviour at a Garda station; a public order offence at Tallaght Garda Station on October 10, 2023, where she spat on the glass barrier and used threatening and abusive behaviour (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: No compensation was ever paid but the court heard that while Mohan was engaging with a restorative justice programme, a representative attempted to contact the owner of Springfield Pharmacy on her behalf to arrange payment, but he was deceased. Judge McNamara imposed a five-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, in relation to the criminal damage.