Judge banters with black-eyed woman at Kildare court
Image for illustration purposes only
A JUDGE enjoyed a bit of black-eyed banter with a woman on videolink to the point that she thanked him three times for a nine month sentence for criminal damage.
Appearing on the big screen in Naas District Court recently from Dóchas Women’s Prison where she is serving another, unrelated sentence was Leanne Mulholland (30) with an address at Longfield Hostel, Fitzwilliam St Lwr, Dublin 2.
Ms Mulholland was charged with the criminal damage to a set of electronic gates, and trespass on the property of a named individual at Newtown, Kilcock on 29 September 2023.
“Gardaí had responded to reports of a number of people trespassing on a property near Kilcock on the night in question,” said Sergeant Mary Meade.
“They had blocked the lane with their van before they damaged the gates, causing €6,000 worth of damage.
“They then tried to hide on the property, but all were located by gardaí, and one of these was Leanne Mulholland … she was very drunk but co-operative,” said Sgt Meade.
“Are those black marks on your eyes?” asked Judge Desmond Zaidan.
“Yes. I was in the gym and got too close to a boxing bag,” remarked Ms Mulholland.
“See what this court notices, Ms Mulholland. Don’t mess with punching bags – they can bite back!” said the judge light-heartedly.
After a brief recess in order for Ms Mulholland to receive a phone call from her barrister Donncha Craddock, the uplink was re-booted.
“Where’s the boxing bag?” asked the judge.
“I’m going back to it later,” said Ms Mulholland. “But I’d like to get this dealt with today.”
“The other suspects?” asked the judge.
“All have been charged, and are before the courts,” said the sergeant.
“I just want to get home to my kids,” said the defendant.
“Did you grow up in the childcare system?” asked the judge.
“No judge, and on that I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.
Mr Craddock explained that Mulholland was a single mother of two, but whose partner is not on the scene.
“She had some addiction issues with tablets, but is clean now and has started painting,” he said in mitigation.
“Can you paint? Could you paint Mr Craddock and get his hair right?” asked the judge.
“I could try but I’m only painting here in the prison – prison grey – I never want to see that colour again!” she laughed.
“A couple of the people she was with had warrants and they scattered. She was only looking for a lift,” said Mr Craddock.
Ms Mulholland had 25 previous convictions.
Judge Zaidan sentenced her to nine months in prison for the criminal damage, and took the trespassing into consideration.
He backdated the start of this to 15 January, and set an appeal bond at €250.
As her release date is set for 28 February, 2027, this sentence won’t extend her stay at all.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” said Ms Mulholland. “Have a nice day, and I’ll go easier on the boxing bag!”
