A 20-YEAR-OLD Limerick woman went “berserk” in the back of a Garda squad car causing €1,309 in damage after calling Gardaí ‘skanky f–kin pigs’ in the seaside resort of Kilkee.
At Kilrush District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett said that Abbey Rice had “destroyed” the Garda car by kicking out at internal door panels on July 30, 2022, outside the Greyhound Bar on O’Curry Street in Kilkee, County Clare.
Judge Gabbett said that Ms Rice had gone “berserk” in the back of the Garda car after drinking alcohol while on prescribed medication.
Solicitor for Ms Rice, of Danesport, Corbally, Limerick, John Casey admitted that what took place was “a nasty incident – an explosion”.
Ms Rice pleaded guilty to the criminal damage of the Hyundai Garda squad car and to a public order offence on the date.
Outlining the facts, Sergeant Louis Moloney said that on the night of July 30, 2022, Gardaí were alerted to a possible public order incident outside the Greyhound Bar in Kilkee.
Sgt Moloney said Gardaí encountered three women outside the bar, one of whom had been refused entry by security personnel, stating that their view was she that Ms Rice had too much to drink
Sgt Moloney told the court that, in her interaction with Garda, Ms Rice said: “F–k you, skanky f—kin’ pigs.”
“She resisted arrest and the incident escalated further with the arrival of her father at the scene. She became quite aggressive and quite upset while in the back of the Garda car and began to kick out repeatedly causing damage to both trims of the vehicle, causing damage totalling €1,309 to the interior of the car,” Sgt Moloney said, explaining that the patrol car has since been repaired.
Sgt Moloney said that Ms Rice has no previous convictions and on this occasion was “out of control” on drink.
Mr Casey said that there was a very short medical report from Ms Rice’s GP, which outlined that Ms Rice was on prescribed medication on the night.
He said: “Her mother is here in court with her. She never has caused them any difficulty.”
Judge Gabbett said that compensation must be paid in the case, adding that “the difficulty as I see it is that the offending comes from drinking with medication dealing with anxiety”.
Mr Casey said that his client is on disability but is hopeful of getting back into the workforce.
Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to October for compensation.
He concluded: “A situation where she has to work a few hours a week in order to earn that money might do her the world of good.”