A young woman will be sentenced next week after she admitted having a knife in her possession outside Blackrock Garda station on three occasions.
The woman, who was experiencing severe mental health difficulties at the time, was also abusive towards gardaí during these incidents.
She pleaded guilty to possession of a knife at three locations in the vicinity of Blackrock Garda station on January 20th, 2020, February 1st, 2020 and May 15th, 2020
She also pleaded guilty to a count of threatening behaviour at Sweetman’s Avenue, Blackrock on April 10th, 2020. She has eight previous convictions, including two for assault.
Judge Orla Crowe said at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday that the woman had been experiencing significant difficulties at the time, but had also caused issues for gardaí.
Steak knife
Garda Ciara Morris gave evidence that she noticed the woman standing outside Blackrock Garda Station at 10.30pm on January 20th, 2020.
Garda Morris and a colleague went outside to carry out a welfare check, but the woman did not initially interact with them. She became abusive when gardaí asked her to leave the area and told gardaí she was carrying a knife.
The defendant had a steak knife in one sleeve of her jumper. It was dropped and kicked away by gardaí, who arrested the defendant who was kicking her legs and shouting abuse.
Garda Morris agreed with defence counsel that the woman was 17 at the time of this incident and had been dealing with mental health issues. The defendant was adopted from a Ukrainian orphanage at 16 months old.
Victim impact statements were handed into the court from Garda Morris and her colleague, Garda Janine Jordan. Both said the incident increased their awareness of the need for caution and expressed their relief that no one had been seriously injured.
Razor blade
Garda Sinead Whelan gave evidence that the defendant was spotted outside Blackrock Garda Station on February 1st, 2020.
She initially refused to speak with gardaí, then told them she was armed. The defendant did not cooperate with gardaí when they arrested her. A razor blade was found in her pocket.
The defendant was spotted by gardaí on Sweetman’s Avenue on April 10th, 2020 at 10.45pm. She told gardaí she had a sharp stone and was going to use it. The defendant became abusive when asked how she planned to use the stone. She lashed out and had to be restrained.
The defendant was later seen by gardaí running on Main Street away from Blackrock Garda Station on May 15th, 2020 at 10.30pm. She threw away an object, which was found to be a steak knife.
Severe mental health difficulties
Garda Whelan agreed with defence counsel that gardaí were concerned for the woman’s welfare and called a doctor. She confirmed the defendant had spent time in custody and no new charges had been brought since her release in November 2021.
Defence counsel said the woman's offending behaviour occurred during an 18-month period when she was facing severe mental health difficulties.
She had spent nine months in custody and this had acted as a catalyst for her to engage with appropriate services to address her mental health.
After a period of homelessness, the woman is now living with her parents, who were present in court. Judge Crowe adjourned sentencing to July 29th for finalisation.
Update: At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday, July 29th, Judge Orla Crowe imposed a one-year prison term which she suspended on conditions including that the defendant engage with mental health services for that period. She noted that the defendant had been experiencing significant difficulties at the time, but had also caused issues for gardai.
