Woman avoids jail for violent disorder incident at Louth shop

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 36-year-old woman has avoided jail for her part in a violent disorder incident in Dundalk after she was deemed suitable for community service.

Karen Woods, McCooey Terrace, Clogherhead, Co. Louth, was sentenced to 150 hours unpaid work in the community in lieu of 18 months’ imprisonment.

She had pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred at Londis, Castletown Road, Dundalk, on July 2, 2022.

Judge Dara Hayes said that she was least culpable of the four people involved.

A previous sentence hearing at the circuit court heard from Gda David Woods who said that the parties, the defendant and three men, entered the shop at different times.

There was bad blood between two of the males. One swung a bottle of beer. A fight started and continued outside.

When it broke up, Ms Woods left with one of the men whom she was going out with at the time. Her actions were mostly outside the premises.

Investigators were able to identify each accused from “good quality” CCTV.

Nome of the people involved made complaints to gardaí.

This defendant had four previous convictions for drugs offences.

Cross-examined by barrister Ronan O’Carroll, instructed by solicitor Fergal Boyle, Gda Woods said it was agreed from her then boyfriend’s statement that she was trying to stop the incident. He was sorry for dragging her into it.

Mr O’Carroll submitted that she went from peacekeeper to defender to offender in a short space of time. Ms Woods kicked one man when she wasn’t even wearing shoes. She got caught up in the affairs of others.

She was a carer and worked “above and beyond” during Covid-19. She lost her job because of the offending. The mother of one had stopped drugs.

Judge Hayes said that customers were present in the shop and what occurred was a frightening experience and upsetting for them.

Karen Woods’ involvement began as an attempt to intervene. She had not come to garda attention since.

The judge said she was the least culpable of the four defendants.

In lieu of 18 months imprisonment, she was directed to complete 150 hours’ community service within 12 months.