Young mother told she faces 15 months in jail if she reoffends

A young mother has been given a suspended sentence at Cavan District Court for threatening to kill a woman, assaulting her and another.

A recent sitting of the local district court was told that the defendant, who cannot be named due to her age at the time of the offence, has had a “tough life” growing up.

Defence solicitor Luke Fortune also explained how the defendant had suffered close family bereavements.

The 19 year old was in court on eight charges including threatening to kill a named person on October 18, 2024; producing a fold-up knife on the same date; assaulting the same woman on September 1, 2024; assaulting a second named woman at the same residence on November 5, 2024; possession of cannabis at a specific address on the same date; two criminal damage charges for breaking a flatscreen TV and mirror at the same location on November 5 and December 2, 2024 respectively; and producing a knife, again at a named location on August 16, 2024.

Judge Finnegan enquired why the defendant had only attended one of two appointments with her probation officer.

The defendant’s solicitor Luke Fortune said: “There was a miscommunication” to which the unimpressed judge responded: “I’d say the miscommunication was only on one side.”

“She was homeless for a couple of months,” the defence solicitor continued noting she had a baby. “A letter from Tusla says she has been engaging very actively with the agency.”

“These are very savage charges,” Judge Finnegan pointed out.

Sergeant Damien Galligan said the defendant has 36 previous convictions, the most recent of which was from July 3, 2025, for five counts of criminal damage, arson, and five public order offences.

Convicting the young mother Judge Finnegan sentenced her to five months in prison for each of the charges of threatening to kill, and assault.

The judge suspended the sentences, which were to run consecutively, for two years on the condition the defendant does not reoffend within that period. If she comes before court again in the next two years she can expect to serve a total of 15 months in prison for these convictions.

Judge Finnegan took all the other charges into consideration and made a destruction order for the cannabis found in the defendant’s possession.