Prison term for woman who waved knife at teenagers
A 52-year-old woman who waved a box cutter knife in a "threatening gesture" at three teenagers in Eyre Square has received a seven-month prison sentence.
Marie Ryan McCarthy, with a former address at an emergency accommodation service for homeless women and who has been in custody since September, pleaded guilty to the production of an article in a likely manner to intimidate others contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. She also admitted unlawful possession of a knife contrary to section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Garda Patrick Foley told the court he was speaking to the male victim of an alleged assault in Eyre Square at approximately 6.50pm on September 3 last, when he was approached by three women, all aged 19.
The group said they had been approached by a woman who was shouting and holding a box-cutter knife with the blade extended. A search of a backpack in the accused's possession led to the discovery of a hammer and two box-cutter knives. She was conveyed to a Garda station where a search was by a female Garda resulted in a box-cutter knife being found in the accused's bra.
Garda Foley said Marie Ryan McCarthy did not use the knife but waved it in a "threatening gesture" at the three women, who were not known to her. The court heard she had 178 previous convictions including four for possession of knives and 37 under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.
Defence solicitor Michael Cunningham said a comprehensive investigation had been carried out into the incident and there was no suggestion his client was going to attack the three women.
She said that she had gone to the assistance of the man allegedly assaulted and had nothing to do with that earlier incident.
The court was told that McCarthy accepted that her action would have put people in fear but maintained the bag searched by Gardaí was not hers. Mr Cunningham said his client had had a very difficult life blighted by alcohol and drugs but she had done well in custody and was attending an alternative to violence course.
Judge Adrian Harris said that the court took into account the accused's background and personal difficulties but also the fear that must have been felt by the three women who reported the incident. He imposed concurrent sentences of seven months and six months, backdated to September 2025.