‘richly deserved’ | 

Mum of three (37) with 80 convictions is jailed after calling garda an ‘ugly b****rd’

When gardaí called to the scene, she screamed “rats” and “c**ts” at them

Tue 13 Feb 2024 at 09:30

A mother of three who threatened to “beat up” gardaí during a series of public order episodes has been jailed by a judge who said she “richly deserves” prison.

Geraldine Ward (37) also broke a window at her mother’s house, then called the investigating garda an “ugly b*****rd” and made insulting comments about his “Mrs”, a court heard.

Judge David McHugh said Ward, who had 80 previous convictions, had “run out of road” and sentenced her to two months in prison.

Ward, of Shancastle Drive, Clondalkin, admitted charges of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, criminal damage, theft and public intoxication.

Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court the accused was seen smashing a window at her home address on May 18, 2022. When gardaí called to the scene, she screamed “rats” and “c**ts” at them, telling one officer: “Your Mrs is getting lashed out of it ‘cause you’re an ugly b*****d.”

She appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant and was arrested. The cost of the damage was €100.

On June 6 last year, she threatened gardaí that she would “beat them up” when they told her to stop shouting and roaring while she was highly intoxicated at Harelawn Park, Clondalkin. Her abusive behaviour continued despite directions to move on and she was then arrested.

Ward was again highly abusive to gardaí when they investigated a theft at a Texaco garage on the N4 in Lucan on August 30 last year. She had stolen €20 worth of goods and was in an “agitated state” when gardaí confronted her in the forecourt.

Ward had 80 previous convictions, 23 of which were for public order offences. The accused was a “very vulnerable young lady” who had overcome a “hard drug” addiction to heroin and cocaine but was now abusing alcohol, her solicitor Lorraine Stephens said.

Ward was “somebody who absolutely should not consume alcohol.”

She was ashamed that some of the incidents happened in the vicinity of her mother’s house.

Ward had had a job but relapsed into alcohol use and “matters quickly escalated”, Ms Stephens said. When in recovery, the accused did well and was very easy to deal with. She was currently on a waiting list for a place in treatment.

“This lady has well and truly run out of road,” Judge McHugh said. “I have no hesitation in imposing a sentence, she has reached the end of the line.”