A MOTHER of four has been given a suspended three-year jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to engaging in violence in which part of a person’s ear was bitten off during a row over alcohol.
Christina Mulqueen (40), of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, Limerick, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in violent disorder where three or more persons together used or threatened to use unlawful violence that would cause a person to fear for their safety.
The charge related to violence which broke out in Limerick City Centre.
Sentencing Judge Colin Daly said the “motivation” for the violence “appears to have been a dispute about alcohol”.
The judge said aggravating factors in the case were that CCTV footage harvested by Gardaí from various points around the city “showed a shocking level of violence” during the incident.
The violence engaged in by Ms Mulqueen and others on the day also “interfered with traffic and members of the public going about their normal day”, the judge added.
Judge Daly noted that Ms Mulqueen was the not the person who bit off part of the victim’s ear.
“Ms Mulqueen’s role was the lesser of the three parties involved, and therefore I am satisfied that a headline sentence of four years is appropriate,” Judge Daly said.
He then looked at mitigating factors to balance his sentencing decision.
“In mitigation, I take into account the accused’s guilty plea, her long standing alcohol addiction, and her significant steps to address this and to change her lifestyle since.
“Ms Mulqueen has completed an alcohol treatment programme, she has had sustained engagement with addiction services, she is also a mother of four children who are in her care.
“I am satisfied to reduce the sentence to three years, which I will suspend in full for three years,” said Judge Daly.
The judge ordered that, as part of the terms of the suspended sentence, Ms Mulqueen would have to “continue to engage with aftercare and treatment supports as long as they are afforded to her, and that she be under the supervision of the probation service for 12 months”.
“Ms Mulqueen is to graduate from Phase Three (alcohol treatment programme) in September and if it is recommended that she require further aftercare thereafter, she must comply with that.”
The judge told Ms Mulqueen he was giving her a “very significant” chance “which you won’t get again”.
Ms Mulqueen told the judge: “I’m very sorry for what happened.”
The judge replied: “Well, keep it up.”