‘It cranks up my blood pressure’ – Louth woman bit Garda during search at station
The Drogheda Independent“It cranks up my blood pressure when people abuse Gardaí,” a judge has remarked after hearing how a 19-year-old woman bit an officer while she was being restrained for a search.
Judge Nicola Andrews gave the defendant Erane Buckley an opportunity to retain her clean record when adjourning the case for a charitable donation.
Ms Buckley was warned of the consequences of a conviction if she did not pay up.
"Then you have a record and won’t be able to go to the sunny shores of Sydney or the States,” the judge said.
Erane Buckley, Gort Nua, Station Road, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth, pleaded guilty at the district court to assaulting Gda Ayesha Tahir, resisting and obstructing Gda Leah Shipley and using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour or words, at Dundalk Garda Station on March 14 last.
Court presenter Sgt Ronan Loftus said that the accused was in custody at the station and while being searched by two Gardaí at 11.58pm became verbally abusive, saying, “You f**king c**ts”.
She was swinging her arms and kicking out at Gda Shipley, and while being held by the shoulders, turned and faced Gda Tahir before baring her teeth and biting the officer on the right hand, leaving a mark.
Barrister Niall Mackin said that Ms Buckley lost her mother when aged 6 and began taking alcohol in her late teens.
Judge Andrews said that she was “really irritated”.
The case was adjourned to November 5 for a €200 donation to the court fund, otherwise there would be a conviction and €500 fine.