Woman in court following 'serious knife offences' in Limerick refused bail

A YOUNG woman who is accused of committing three ‘serious knife offences’ in Limerick city earlier this week has been refused bail.

Jodie Mulvihill, aged 24, who has an address at Sexton Street in the city, appeared before Limerick District Court this Friday afternoon to face charges of robbery and production of an article capable of inflicting injury or causing serious harm.

Opposing bail, Garda Shane Stanley said it will be alleged the defendant threatened two members of staff with a “large knife” after entering the Centra store at Newtown Centre, Annacotty at around 9.25pm on Wednesday.

Garda Stanley said it will be alleged the defendant made “stabbing movements” towards one worker as she demanded he hand over cash from the till. Another worker jumped the counter and ran in the direction of a store room as he feared for his safety.

Judge Patricia Harney was told CCTV footage of the incident has been obtained by gardai and that detailed statements have been made by the two workers.

Garda Stanley said it will be alleged Ms Mulvihill, who is accused of taking a steak worth €9.75 from the store, can be identified as the culprit from the CCTV footage.

The defendant is separately accused of producing a large knife from inside her jacket at Newtown Meadows, Castletroy a short time later.

Garda Stanley said it is alleged Ms Mulvihill waved the knife aggressively at two men after she and another woman encountered them while walking in the area.

Both men ran away and alerted gardai to the incident

The third offence is alleged to have occurred close to Ms Mulvihill’s home shortly after midnight on Thursday.

Judge Harney was told on this occasion, it will be alleged the defendant was observed by gardai wielding a large white-handled knife in the middle of the street.

He said it will be further alleged that as gardai attempted to arrest her, she retreated towards her home and that she “attempted to slash” the two gardai.

Garda Stanley said incapacitant spray was used by gardai at which point Ms Mulvihill was arrested and brought to Henry Street garda station.

The garda expressed concern the defendant would not appear in court if granted bail and that she would commit further serious offences.

He told Sergeant Denis Waters there were no bail conditions that would allay his fears regarding the defendant.

In her evidence, Jodie Mulvihill, who is originally from Listowel, County Kerry, said she was “willing to do anything” if released and she said she intends seeking help to address her drug addiction.

Solicitor Cathal Quirke said his client had a “chaotic upbringing” and that she does have mental health difficulties.

Seeking bail, he said Ms Mulvihill had been “quite pleasant” with gardai following her arrest and that she has a “genuine desire to address her issues”.

Having considered the garda objection, Judge Harney noted that while the defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence, she had concerns about granting her bail.

She said she was satisfied the evidence of Garda Stanley was “well-founded” and in the circumstances, she was refusing bail.

The matter was adjourned to September 8, next for DPP’s directions.

Separately, a file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to a second woman who was also arrested on Wednesday night.

That woman, aged in her 30s, was detained at Henry Street garda station but has since been released without charge.

Investigations are ongoing.