Cork woman tells court she was left to 'hitch hike home in the dark' following arrest

A 60-year-old woman convicted of three public order offences and obstruction has told the district court she was left to hitchhike home in the dark following her arrest in October 2024.

Ann O’Neill, of Mardyke St, Skibbereen, appeared at Skibbereen District Court before Judge Joanne Carroll where her case was due for finalisation.

At a previous hearing, O’Neill was convicted on two counts of intoxication in a public place, one count of threatening and abusive behaviour, and one count of obstructing a peace officer.

Her solicitor, Colette McCarthy, told the court O’Neill had suffered serious personal tragedy in her life, had been diagnosed with cancer, and had also been given notice to leave her accommodation by September.

She said her client was anxious to address the court, as she did not do so at the time of her conviction, and Judge Carroll agreed to allow O’Neill to address the court.

O’Neill said her dealings with the court arose from an incident in October 2024 following a visit to her GP, who had requested a welfare check be carried out. On foot of the welfare check, O’Neill was arrested in the early afternoon and taken from her home in Skibbereen to Clonakilty Garda Station.

O’Neill told the court her mobile phone was on low charge and she had no money, and her sister was not informed of where she had gone.

She told the court she was released after 8pm but was told she could not be brought home because the gardaí were not insured to do so. She said she walked to a petrol station in Clonakilty to see if they could charge her phone for her but they were unable to do so, and she was forced to hitchhike back to Skibbereen in the dark.

Judge Joanne Carroll said she understood O’Neill “had a lot of tragedy in her life” but the reality was for a positive outcome she would have to engage with alcohol treatment services. She acknowledged O’Neill had no previous convictions, but a probation report submitted to the court was “not as good as it could be”, as O’Neill had only attended one of three appointments.

The judge said she was concerned about O’Neill’s wellbeing, but could not alter the findings of the case that was heard by another judge. The judge said she would seek an addendum probation report and told O’Neill that she must fully engage with the Probation Service, alcohol treatment serves, mental health services and bereavement counselling in the meantime.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme