Teenage girl admits assaulting garda at Lidl store in Shannon

A THIRTEEN-year-old girl assaulted a female garda at a supermarket in Shannon last October, a court has heard.

The accused, now aged 14, has appeared before the Children’s Court in Ennis where she pleaded guilty to the assault of Garda Ailish Hanly on October 14 last at Lidl, Tullyvarraga, Shannon.

The teenager - who can’t be named for legal reasons due to her age - has also pleaded guilty to a public order charge relating to an incident at the same location on the same date.

The defendant, who was accompanied in court by her mother and an Extern social care worker, met with gardai by appointment before court to be charged.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey for the accused said that she had spoken at length to her client who, the court heard, made no reply after charge and caution.

Ms Godfrey said her client "accepts that her behaviour was improper on the date. There was some background to it but not sufficient to actually fight the case or win the case”.

She asked that sentencing be deferred to allow a Probation Service be prepared in relation to her client.

Cigarettes worth €20,000 seized by revenue officers in Limerick

Ms Gofdrey said her client has "very minimal schooling right now” but stated that Extern has been hoping to increase that and her client "is very interested in various past times and opportunities".

The solicitor said her client was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of eight and had connections with the HSE's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) but was discharged from that service

Judge Adrian Harris was told that there was no issue concerning bail for the accused and he remanded her on bail to appear before court again on February 14, next.