Waterford woman to avoid jail if she gets bereavement counselling and alcohol treatment 

A 51-year-old Ferrybank woman has avoided jail at Waterford District Court on the condition that she attend bereavement counselling and treatment for alcoholism.

Teresa Purcell, Belmont Heights, Ferrybank, (51), was before Judge Kevin Staunton at Waterford District Court for a significant number of charges, with the vast majority under the Public Order Act.

Two counts of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, from April 26 at Treacy's Hotel and May 1 at The Quay, Waterford city, were concluded at a sitting this week.

Judge Staunton, in passing sentence, said the woman was “known to the court”. 

He said that “when she drinks, she gets into trouble, but she cannot stop drinking.” 

“The most important thing is that [the defendant] deals with her alcohol issues, and she needs help doing that.

“She is a very difficult customer to deal with and the amount of court and garda time taken up with her is unacceptable,” said Judge Staunton.

Judge Staunton imposed two consecutive two-month prison sentences, suspended for 12 months each.

The suspension of her sentence was, he said, on the condition that she follow all recommendations of the probation service and get treatment for her addiction.

“If she does not do what the probation people said, she will go to prison for four months,” said Judge Staunton.

Her solicitor, Ken Cunningham, asked the judge to make an additional condition that she complete bereavement counselling.

“Given the tragedy that has befallen this lady in her teens and the most recent loss of her partner,” said Mr Cunningham.   

The judge agreed to her counsel’s suggestion.