Woman is verbally abused while playing in park with her young grandchildren
The defendant became verbally abusive to the complainant and started shouting offensive remarks at her.
A woman in her 50s has been found guilty of breaching a civil restraining order, which was taken against her by several neighbours residing in a local estate.
The defendant breached the order on Saturday, June 13, when she approached and verbally abused one of these neighbours whilst she was in a local park with two of her very young grandchildren.
The complainant said she had brought her grandchildren to the park to play at approximately 2pm that day.
Upon arriving, the complainant said she noticed the defendant was also there. She said she tried to avoid her.
Despite this, the defendant approached the complainant and repeatedly asked to use her phone. The complainant told her to go away.
The defendant became verbally abusive to the complainant and started shouting offensive remarks at her.
The defendant then approached other people enjoying the park and made offensive comments about the complainant to them.
The complainant told the court she was “mortified” during the ordeal and was only trying to look after the children. She said she felt she had nowhere to go to escape the situation because she had a buggy with her.
The defendant was arrested shortly afterwards and gardaí became aware that by interacting with the complainant in the park she had breached a restraining order.
The court heard that there are a number of connected people who are all living on the same street included in the order against the defendant.
While giving evidence in court, the complainant said she was “more than happy” to have her name associated with the restraining order.
“I just wanted her to leave me alone,” she said.
She said she had known the woman for many years and would always “do anything” to avoid her.
Both the complainant and defendant provided evidence surrounding the incident in the park to Judge Kevin Staunton during the court hearing.
Judge Staunton accepted the evidence of the complainant and convicted the defendant of breaching the restraining order.
He described her behaviour on the day as “horrible”.
Judge Staunton adjourned sentencing the woman until September 14. He said her behaviour over the summer will determine the severity of the sentence she receives.
He said he will have "no mercy" on her if she returns to the estate where any of the people who took the restraining order against her reside.
Due to reporting restrictions, names have been redacted from this report.
