Woman accused of Offaly assaults will have fitness to plead assessed

LEGAL aid for a woman accused of assaulting her mother and two gardai has been extended to cover a psychiatric assessment.

Judge Andrew Cody told Tullamore District Court a psychiatric report will be required for the 32-year-old to assess her fitness to plead.

The woman, who is in custody, appeared before Judge Cody by video link from prison and alleged that the court had detained her “illegally” a week earlier.

When Judge Cody told the woman that she had been remanded in custody with consent to bail she said she had not heard that when she was in court the previous day.

During that appearance bail had been opposed by gardai and the court heard the prosecution evidence would be that the woman had brandished, but not used, a meat hammer, when she was assaulting her mother.

The assault resulted in the defendant's face being cut and her glasses broken. One garda who came to the scene was struck in the nose with a heel and another was headbutted, loosening the guard's tooth, the court heard.

The woman's mother told the court she no longer wished her daughter, who had been coming and going from the family home, to be living at home. Her daughter needed help and had previously been cared for by the psychiatric services.

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The court was told by defending solicitor Aisling Maloney that the accused would be applying to her local authority for assistance with finding alternative accommodation.

Judge Cody remanded the woman in custody with consent to bail, on her own bond of €100 and an independent surety of €400, to February 25 next for directions from the DPP.