Cork court: Woman described as 'a menace on the street when she has drink taken' is jailed

A woman who parked her motorbike in Cork city was punched in the face by another woman who knocked it over, and she also bit a security man on the hand when he tried to intervene to protect the injured party.

Teegan Lonergan, 25, of Cork Simon Community, was described as a menace when she is drinking on the streets, but against that she has been doing very well in prison in rehabilitating and availing of services.

Solicitor Eddie Burke said she was looking much better as a result of a number of days in prison. Judge Philip O’Leary agreed and said it was sad to hear of her getting into such difficulties on the streets as a young woman. He imposed an overall sentence of five months on Ms Lonergan.

Mr Burke said: 

“She has a very bad alcohol problem. She does not seem to have an issue with drugs. She had the good grace at least to apologise for her actions at Daunt Square.”

Judge O’Leary said: “She is a menace on the street when she has drink taken. She is a danger to other people and to herself.”

Mr Burke agreed, but said: “She has the whole of her life ahead of her if only she could engage with services.”

Imposing the five-month sentence for the assault on the motorbike owner and the security guard at Daunt Square, Cork, Judge O’Leary said: “These are innocent bystanders.”

Inspector Ray Dunne said that on March 16 at Daunt Square, she took a woman’s parked motorcycle and threw it on the ground, causing damage to a brake cable and petrol tank.

“When the owner confronted Teegan Lonergan, the defendant threw two punches at her, hitting her on the side of the head. A security officer from a nearby premises came to the assistance of the injured party and tried to restrain Teegan Lonergan, who bit him on the hand. This bite did not draw blood.

“She was highly intoxicated and a danger to herself and others. Subsequently, she was interviewed and stated that she couldn’t remember anything but did apologise.”

Less than a month later, she was involved in another disturbance at MacCurtain St on April 5, where she knocked over a large street plant decoration causing €200 damage.

She was shouting at someone and using abusive language. She was approached by gardaí and attempted to flee, but was apprehended.

On June 4 at Paul St, she was verbally abusive to gardaí and told them, “fuck off, ye handicap bastards”. Finally, on June 24 at Shalom Park on Albert Rd, she was again drunk and a danger, and was also threatening towards gardaí who woke her when she was lying on the ground with bags scattered around her and with a pillow under her head.

Judge O’Leary wished Ms Lonergan well in maintaining sobriety after her release from prison.