Woman given community service for violent disorder incident in Louth housing estate

A 23 year old woman charged with violent disorder in a local housing estate, was last week sentenced to perform 100 hours community service in lieu of a two month sentence

Tiarnach Cunningham with an address at Lios Dubh, Armagh Road, Dundalk had originally been told that the case would be struck out if €1,000 in compensation was paid.

Dundalk district court previously heard she had arrived with another individual at an address in Slieve Foy Park on March 10th 2023 and her solicitor stressed that the defendant had no previous convictions and a family dispute was in the background.

She described Ms. Cunningham as a lovely girl who has a very bright future in front of her, although she had been unable to raise compensation as she had recently lost her job.

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Judge Eirinn McKiernan, who originally heard the case had adjourned finalising the matter for payment of the compensation, and said if the €1,000 was paid she would strike out the charge and if it's not, the defendant was facing a community service order in lieu of a two month sentence.

Since then Judge McKiernan was appointed the sitting district court judge in Meath and the case was further adjourned on a number of occasions, including last October when Judge Stephanie Coggans was told the defendant had recently moved to a new property and did not have the compensation in court and her solicitor added she had her client's rent book in court, along with social welfare and housing assistance payment receipts.

Last Wednesday, after being told Ms. Cunningham “cannot pay the monies” Judge Nicola Andrews imposed 100 hours community service and fixed recognizance in the event of an appeal in the defendant's own bond of €300 with no cash lodgement.