Threat to curse Laois gardai with cancer

A woman who threatened to curse gardai with cancer was given a suspended sentence. 

Tina Nevin, 48, of 18 Silverbrook, Mountmellick admitted a charge of violent disorder at that address on February 20, 2017. 

Sgt JJ Kirby said a standoff took place at the location and “she declared she would curse all their families with cancer.” 

He said the defendant told Gardai she had done this before and the mother of a garda had died. He said implements were thrown at the gardai during the incident and the defendant was involved. 

After the incident, the woman “went on the run for a while”, Sgt Kirby said. “She was certainly evading gardai,” he told the court. 

“Ms Nevin has asked me in open court to apologise for her behaviour,” said solicitor Philip Meagher. 

Mr Meagher said a family van was parked up at the address and some of the younger members of the family ran in to tell her the gardai were looking at the van. “The red mist descended as it were,” said Mr Meagher. 

“She became agitated and very upset” but was now embarrassed and very ashamed. “She became irate, she has very little recollection of what she said,” Mr Meagher told the court. 

He said she left the address because there was an issue of a  feud between individuals in Mountmellick and Portlaoise at the time. He said the woman now resides at the Tarmac Depot, Kilcruttin, Tullamore. “She is a homemaker and doesn’t drink,” added Mr Meagher. 

Judge Andrew Cody said cursing at gardai in such a manner is a very serious offence. He imposed a two month sentence suspended for two years.