Cork woman jailed following attempted attack on gardaí

A woman who was never in jail before has just started a five-month term for trying to kick and punch gardaí during one incident and doing likewise to a woman in another.

Denise Cawley, aged 24, of no fixed address broke down in tears in court at the sentencing hearing.

Her solicitor, Shane Collins-Daly, said the young woman had been remanded in custody for a few days pending sentence and that this was her first ever time in custody and she was finding the experience extremely difficult.

She pleaded guilty to multiple charges against her at Cork District Court.

Mr Collins-Daly said that the woman had a very difficult childhood that gave rise to later addiction problems.

Judge Mary Dorgan said that she was familiar with the defendant’s background and said that in light of her ongoing issues, it was possible that custody would be the best place for her for the time being so that she could begin to put her life on a better standing.

The judge imposed a total sentence of eight months with the last three months suspended.

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined in court the background to the incidents that gave rise to the latest charges against Cawley.

On March 23, shortly before 10pm, she was highly intoxicated on College Rd and gardaí tried to arrest her for her own safety.

However, she lashed out at gardaí and tried to kick and punch them.

On July 31, 2024, at St Patrick’s Hill, she was in a physical altercation with another woman.

“Ms Cawley was observed throwing punches and kicks in the direction of another person present,” Sgt Kelleher said.

There were also a number of other incidents.

She stole €23 worth of alcohol from Spar on MacCurtain St, Cork, on September 22, 2024.

She was caught in possession of a knife concealed in her leggings on April 2 at Lapps Quay, Cork.

Six days later, she was drunk and a danger at St Vincent’s hostel and four days after, that she was drunk again at Anderson’s Quay.

In shoplifting offences dating back to 2023, between September 12 and December 23 of that year, she stole property from Dunnes in Merchants Quay, from Lifestyle Sports on Patrick St, and Topaz on Monahan Rd.