Judge puts Offaly woman in custody until agreement on compensation reached

A WOMAN was detained in custody for a brief period in the Tullamore District Court courtroom after Judge Andrew Cody demanded that she undertake to pay compensation to an assault victim.

Sophie Judge (31), with an address at Townmore House, Main Street, Tullamore had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting another woman, causing her harm, at Distillery Lane, Tullamore on May 7, 2024.

When that plea was entered Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court the gardai had been called by a member of the public telling them the assault had taken place.

“The assault had been preceded by a verbal altercation between the defendant and the injured party,” said Sergeant Thornton.
“When they arrived they saw that the injured party had a laceration to her head and abrasion marks on the right hand side of her face.”

Judge Andrew Cody said he wouldn't make a decision until he saw a victim impact statement and at the sitting on Wednesday (March 5) the court was told it had been handed in.

Defending solicitor Aisling Maloney told Judge Cody that Ms Judge had been absent from court on a previous occasion because of circumstances of which the gardai were aware. There had been damage to Ms Judge's property, added Ms Maloney.

The solicitor said her client was on social welfare and had to pay money to the Peter McVerry charity and because of that was asking the court to give her more time to pay compensation.

Ms Maloney said Ms Judge would be able to come up with €200 in the next few months.

Judge Cody said the victim had been punched in the face and suffered a two-centimetre laceration.

“€200 is an insult,” remarked the judge, adding that the accused woman needed to take the matter more seriously.

He said the matter could be called again later in the day and in the meantime a date for payment of compensation could be considered by Ms Judge.

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When the case was recalled Ms Maloney said her client was anxious to pay the compensation but was the sole parent of two children and had costs of €216 per week.

However, she would be able to put €30 away each week to compensate the other lady.

Ms Judge then told the court herself that the other woman had robbed money from her child and Ms Maloney said there had been a background between the two parties.

Judge Cody said hair had been ripped out of the victim so he would remand Ms Judge in custody for a week until March 12 for sentencing.

“Next time you're swinging someone by the hair you might have a second think about it,” he stated.

The accused woman remained in custody in the courtroom until Ms Maloney told Judge Cody she was going to save €50 per week, plus a monthly child benefit payment of €140, and that would be put aside for compensation.

Judge Cody then remanded Ms Judge on continuing bail to July 9 for the payment of €1,000 to the injured party.