Kildare woman gets court protection from daughter
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A WOMAN has been granted an interim protection order against her alcoholic and abusive daughter at a recent Family Law hearing in Athy District Court.
The mother, who gave her ex parte evidence to Judge Desmond Zaidan from behind closed doors, told the court how this daughter lived at the family home, but whose behaviour was now getting more and more erratic and worrying.
“Why do you want the order?” asked the judge.
“She gets violent when she drinks,” said the mother.
“She has broken windows round the house, she has broken up the back yard, and has suffered alcoholism for 10 years now … it’s got really bad and extremely violent.
“The last time when we called the guards they told me to come here and get a protection order,” said the mother.
“What do you mean ‘extremely violent’? Has she assaulted you?” probed the judge.
“Once, when I went to calm her down she hit me with a toy before her boyfriend calmed her down,” said the mother.
“Is he an alcoholic too?” asked the judge not unreasonably, but the applicant assured him: “No”.
I need to remind you, assault is a criminal offence, not just a family offence,” said the judge, before adding: “I am not having a go at you, I’m having a go at the guards”.
The mother then told the judge her most recent episode was on 11 January.
“When I refused her alcohol, she hit me with a blunt instrument a number of times, she damaged property, windows, cars,” reported the mother.
“I have no clue what she’s up to on a daily basis.
“She drinks daily, and she’s walking the roads at all hours to get drink."
The judge asked: “Is all of this true?”
When the applicant said: “yes”, the judge granted the interim order until 12 October, on which date both parties must show up in court to give their evidence to allow the judge rule on extending it, or removing it.
