Cork woman who punched garda avoids prison

A 25-year-old woman who has been drinking at least one bottle of vodka every day from the age of 21 punched member of An Garda Siochána in the nose and bit another officer’s arm, now has been given a four-month suspended jail term.

Judge Treasa Kelly said: “It is a very serious matter to bite the garda. They have a very difficult job to do.”

The judge noted that the young woman had been remanded in custody for a few days, but that this was her first time in prison.

As well as suspending the four months, the judge put Teegan Lonergan on a 12-month probation bond.

The defendant faced multiple charges, the most serious being one of assault causing harm by biting.

Sergeant Liam Walsh previously outlined the background to the case where Lonergan was charged with a count of assault causing harm to Detective Garda Kevin Motherway at St Luke’s Cross, Cork, on June 10, 2024, contrary to the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Gardaí were on duty that afternoon and observed Ms Teegan staggering off a footpath.

Det Gda Motherway and Det Garda Brian Holland approached. She shouted at them: “Get the f*** away from me ye c***s, ye are bastards, f*** off ye pricks”, the court heard.

Arrested

They arrested her and were waiting for transport to the Bridewell Garda Station.

“While waiting, she punched Det Gda Holland into the nose,” Sgt Walsh said in his outline of the allegations in the case.

“He was not injured. While being placed in the garda personnel carrier, Teegan Lonergan bit Det Gda Motherway’s right arm and broke skin.

“He had blood tests and received a tetanus shot and has made a full recovery. He has one more assessment test to do next month — it is all clear at the moment.”

As well as the charge of assault causing harm, Lonergan was charged with assaulting Det Gda Holland, engaging in threatening behaviour, and being drunk and a danger on the occasion last June.

Solicitor Eddie Burke said: “This is her first time in custody. Alcohol is the issue. She has no issue with any narcotics. She is 25 and residing at Cork Simon Community for the past two years. She said that by 21, she was drinking at least a bottle of vodka a day. She has moderated her drinking.”