‘POOR RECORD’ | 

Dublin woman who clocked up over 900 crime convictions jailed for nine months

Her latest offences included drunkenly shouting at the public watching Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day parade, smashing hundreds of euros worth of drinks bottles in shops and becoming violent after arrest.

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A serial offender with what is believed to be Ireland’s longest criminal record has now clocked up more than 900 convictions due to her latest litany of charges.

Jennifer Armstrong (49) already had 894 prior convictions when she admitted more than 90 new crimes and was jailed for nine months.

Her latest offences included drunkenly shouting at the public watching Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day parade, smashing hundreds of euros worth of drinks bottles in shops and becoming violent after arrest.

Judge Treasa Kelly said Armstrong had a “very poor record” and she had no option but to imprison her. The petty criminal pleaded guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour, public intoxication, violent behaviour in a garda station, obstructing a drug search, theft, criminal damage and possession of a weapon in a series of disturbances in central Dublin between May last year and March this year.

Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy said on St Patrick’s Day this year, Armstrong was intoxicated and shouting at people watching the parade on O’Connell Street.

Many times, she deliberately smashed wine bottles in stores, and threw crockery and food on the floor of one restaurant.

She tried to “spit and strike at” gardaí after an arrest. She had scissors after being found drunk in the city centre, and on another occasion swallowed suspected drugs.

Armstrong had a “terrible problem with drink and substance abuse” and “a lot of health problems,” her solicitor Eoin Lysaght said.

She had been in prison for a long period last year but after release was “brought back in again.”

Mr Lysaght asked for leniency and the judge imposed a 12-month sentence with three suspended.

“Thank you, your honour,” Armstrong said.