Limerick woman went 'berserk' in back of garda car after calling gardai 'skanky f****** pigs'

A YOUNG Limerick woman went ‘berserk’ in the back of a garda patrol car causing €1,309 worth of damage after calling gardai ‘'skanky f****** pigs'’ in the seaside resort of Kilkee.

At Kilrush District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett commented that Abbey Rice had ‘destroyed’ the garda car by kicking out at internal door panels during an incident on July 30 last outside the Greyhound Bar, O'Curry Street in the west Clare town.

Judge Gabbett said the 20-year-old, from Danesfort, Corbally, Limerick had gone ‘berserk’ in the back of the garda car after drinking alcohol while on prescribed medication.

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John Casey, solicitor for Ms Rice, admitted that what took place was “a nasty incident - an explosion”.

Ms Rice pleaded guilty to the criminal damage of the 181-registered white Hyundai garda and to a public order offence on the date.

Outlining the facts, Sergeant Louis Moloney said that on the night of July 30, 2022, gardai were alerted to a possible public order incident outside the Greyhound Bar in Kilkee.

Sgt Moloney said upon arrival, gardai encountered three women outside the bar. One had been refused entry by security personnel there and their view was she that Ms Rice had too much to drink.

Sgt Moloney told the court that in her interaction with gardai, Ms Rice said: “F**k you - Skanky f**k** pigs’.

“She resisted arrest and the incident escalated further with the arrival of her father at the scene. She became quite aggressive and quite upset while in the back of the garda car and began to kick out repeatedly causing damage to both trims of the vehicle causing damage totalling €1,309 to the interior of gardai car.”

Sgt Moloney said that the patrol car has since been repaired.

She said Ms Rice has no previous convictions and on this occasion was “out of control” on drink.

Mr Casey said that there was a very short medical report from Ms Rice’s GP which outlined that Ms Rice was on prescribed medication on the night.

He added: “Her mother is here in court with her. She never has caused them any difficulty.”

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Judge Gabbett said that compensation must be paid in the case adding: “The difficulty as I see it is that the offending comes from drinking with medication dealing with anxiety”.

Mr Casey said that his client is on disability but is hopeful of getting back into the workforce.

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to October to allow compensation to be paid.

In doing so, he said: “A situation where she has to work a few hours a week in order to earn that money might do her the world of good.”