Woman called gardaí ‘useless c**ts’

A WOMAN who was very abusive to gardaí, after an ambulance was called for her daughter, was given a one-month prison sentence when the case came before Monaghan District Court — where the judge noted that the sentence was being made concurrent to a longer prison term she is already serving, and was therefore unlikely to affect her release date.

Melissa Quilton (48) of Clare Oghill, Castleblayney, admitted that she behaved in a threatening and abusive manner at Mullabrack, Smithboro, Co Monaghan, in the early hours of Saturday, December 20, 2025. Sergeant Lisa McEntee said gardaí had been requested to attend an address at Smithboro at 1:30am on that date. While they were at the scene, and awaiting the arrival of an ambulance for Ms Quilton’s daughter, they were approached by the defendant herself, who was known to them.

The sergeant said Quilton told the officers that they were “useless c**ts”, and asked them, “Why aren’t you doing your f**king job?”

She retreated back into her house when the ambulance arrived, the court was told.

Sgt McEntee said Quilton had 44 previous convictions, the most recent being at Monaghan Circuit Court in May 2026 when she was given consecutive prison sentences coming to 14 months for offences including making threats to damage property, having no insurance and failing to comply with Garda directions.

Consecutive sentences amounting to 13 months were also handed down at Monaghan District Court on April 27 last for various offences.

Barrister Dimitry Grinberg said his client had issues with drink, and that she was trying to deal with this while serving her sentences. She is due to be released on February 7, 2027.

In passing sentence, Judge Patricia Cronin said she was noting that alcohol had been consumed on the nig ht in question, and that “tensions were high” while the ambulance was awaited.

She said she was also taking account of what was said to the gardaí on the occasion, along with the previous convictions, and that a one-month prison sentence was being given on that basis for the abusive behaviour.

Judge Cronin confirmed that this was to be concurrent to the sentences already being served, and told the defendant directly that it should not, therefore, interfere with her release date.

Meanwhile, a similar summons was issued to Paul Quilton (45) of Smithboro, Co Monaghan for alleged abusive behaviour on the same occasion. But this case was adjourned to June 22 to allow a plea be entered.