Woman with 107 previous convictions jailed for three months after racially abusing bus driver in Sligo
The Sligo ChampionA woman with 107 previous convictions has received a three-month jail sentence after she racially abused a bus driver.
Jennifer Ward (34) of Breffni, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim was charged with engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour aggravated by hatred at Markievicz Road, Sligo on July 18.
She was also charged with the theft of two bottles of wine and four cans of West Coast Cooler, with a combined value of €30 from Mace, Cloneen, Manorhamilton Co. Leitrim, and failing to appear at Sligo District Court whilst on bail on July 23.
The defendant appeared via video link.
Sergeant Oliver Devaney told the court that on July 18, gardaí received a report of a woman refusing to get off a bus at Markievicz Road after she failed to pay her fare. Upon arrival, gardaí saw that Ward was intoxicated and that he was abusive towards the bus driver, a non-Irish national. She was subsequently arrested.
Sgt Devaney replied that she made racial remarks whilst refusing to get off the bus to the bus driver when asked by Judge Ciaran Liddy.
Ward who had no legal representation due to the ongoing legal aid dispute between criminal law solicitors and the Department of Justice, told Judge Liddy that she just got out of hospital that day, that she had no money, and that her friend told her that they would pay for her fare.
The defendant said that she was drunk and not well, but added that she knew that it was no excuse.
Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor who represented Ward previously, told Judge Liddy that she had a death in her family recently.
On the engaging in abusive, insulting and threatening behaviour aggravated by hatred charge, Judge Liddy sentenced Ward to three months in prison.
For failing to appear in court whilst on bail, he gave her a one-month jail sentence, with both sentences to run concurrently. He took into consideration the theft charge.
Article funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.