A woman who discarded the knife that was used in the killing of Isaac Horgan has been sent back to prison after she refused to enter a detox treatment programme to help deal with the addiction issues that have landed her in court.
Lisa Lee's barrister Ronan Munro SC said that the thought of entering residential care "fills her with panic". Mr Munro said his client appreciates the compassion shown by Mr Justice Tony Hunt but opted to have the suspended portion of her sentence reactivated rather than begin intensive treatment.
In 2022, Lee, 41, was convicted by a jury of discarding a knife used by violent offender Noel Lennon, knowing or believing that Lennon had caused serious harm to Isaac Horgan on March 29th 2021 at Spring Garden Lane in Dublin.
Mr Horgan, who himself had been on trial at the Central Criminal Court 18 years previously when he was cleared of manslaughter, suffered a stab wound to his leg that cut an artery and he bled to death at his home.
Lee, of no fixed abode and formerly with an address at Depaul Homeless Hostel, Little Britain Street, Dublin 7, had denied the charge.
She had 17 previous convictions, including one for attacking a female Garda, and was sentenced by Mr Justice Hunt to four years in prison with the final two suspended on condition that she be of good behaviour and engage with probation services.
Mr Justice Hunt heard this week that since her release in December last year, Ms Lee has been charged with offences under the Public Order Act and Misuse of Drugs Act.
She was also twice found in possession of stolen mobile phones.
Probation officer Niamh O'Connor told the court that Lee had engaged only on a "surface level" with the service and if allowed to remain in her current living conditions would continue to engage in the same way.
Mr Justice Hunt said he understands how difficult it is for a person in Ms Lee's position to "turn things around" but there comes a point "when it is all a bit silly and I am wasting my time and Ms Lee's time."
He gave Ms Lee a choice between entering a detox programme followed by "intensive residential care" or going to prison. He said that if she goes to prison she would likely "come out and continue in an unremediated state and probably commit another crime and the carousel of nonsense will begin again."
Following a consultation, Mr Munro said his client was not willing to enter the treatment programme as the "prospect of residential care fills her with panic". He said Ms Lee had acknowledged the compassion shown by the judge, but she was fearful of entering the care programme.
Mr Justice Hunt remanded Lee in custody, but she will appear before the court again on April 19th.
The judge said he wants time to consider how much of the two-year sentence to reactivate and suggested Lee could use the same time to reconsider her position.
