Woman hit bystander in face during violent outburst at garda station, court told
Rebecca Cunningham (43) lunged at a garda as she was arrested. Photo: Paddy Cummins
A woman struck a bystander in the face when she became violent during a psychotic breakdown in a Dublin garda station.
Rebecca Cunningham (43) also lunged at and tried to punch a garda as she was arrested, a court heard. Judge David McHugh gave her a six-month suspended sentence.
Cunningham, from Rory O'Connor Park, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault, violent behaviour in a garda station and failing to comply with garda directions.
Blanchardstown District Court heard she was in the public office of Ronanstown garda station on July 24 last year and had been told to leave when she hit a woman in the face and began shouting and banging on the glass.
When arrested, she lunged at and attempted to punch a garda.
The court heard Cunningham had a previous conviction for attempting to abduct a child in 2015. In that incident, she was in a drug-induced psychosis when she tried to take a young girl from a south Dublin creche, believing the child to be her own daughter.
Last year's garda station incident happened when Cunningham was going through a 'very difficult period' and had a breakdown and 'very psychotic episode', her solicitor Valerie Buckley said.
Rebecca Cunningham (43) lunged at a garda as she was arrested. Photo: Paddy Cummins
This was an 'acute relapse of psychosis' and she was very embarrassed by her actions.
Cunningham was now on medication which 'very much keeps her on the straight and narrow'.
Judge Hughes suspended a six-month sentence for two years on condition the accused continues to take medication.
Rebecca Cunningham (43) lunged at a garda as she was arrested. Photo: Paddy Cummins
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