Ireland Letterkenny woman fined over public order offences at Darkness Into Light event
In the early hours of 5 May 2022, a 49-year-old woman, Aine Little, was found drunk and shouting on Letterkenny's Main Street during a Darkness Into Light charity event for Pieta House, and she was reported to have verbally abused gardaí and kicked and stamped on tea lights placed by participants. She was arrested under the Public Order Act and charged with offensive conduct under Section 5 and being intoxicated in a public place under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, after a fixed-charge penalty notice issued to her was not paid. She appeared at Letterkenny District Court, where she was fined €300 for the Section 5 offence and allowed five months to pay, and the outcome of the Section 4 charge is not reported. The latest development, reported on 21 July 2024, is this fine.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced21 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Aine Little, a 49-year-old woman, verbally abused gardaí and kicked and stamped on a number of tea lights placed on the street by event participants.
- Where
- The incident happened on Letterkenny's Main Street during a Darkness Into Light event.
- When
- She was found drunk and shouting on Main Street at 3.55am on 5 May 2022.
- Other details
- The tea lights were placed for the Darkness Into Light charity event for Pieta House.
- The court was told she had six previous convictions, mostly for traffic offences.
- Her solicitor said she was somewhat intoxicated and upset on the night and deeply regretted what had happened.
- The judge said what had happened at the event was unacceptable at every level.
- Investigation
- Garda Sergeant Harvey Maughan approached her, asked her to stop, and she continued to shout.
- She was arrested under the Public Order Act.
- A fixed-charge penalty notice issued to her was not paid.
- Charges
- She was charged with offensive conduct under Section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
- She was charged with being intoxicated in a public place under Section 4 of the same Act.
- In court
- She appeared at Letterkenny District Court on charges relating to the event.
- Sentence
- She was fined €300 for the Section 5 offence and allowed five months to pay the fine.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe woman verbally abused gardaí and kicked and stamped on tea lights at the event. (donegallive.ie)
- whatShe stamped on and kicked a number of tea lights placed on the street by event participants. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe incident happened on Letterkenny's Main Street during a Darkness Into Light event. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe woman was found drunk and shouting on Main Street at 3.55am on 5 May 2022. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationShe was approached by Garda Sergeant Harvey Maughan, asked to stop, and continued to shout. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationShe was arrested under the Public Order Act. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA fixed-charge penalty notice was issued to her but she did not pay it. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeShe was charged with offensive conduct under Section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeShe was charged with being intoxicated in a public place under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. (donegallive.ie)
- courtShe appeared at Letterkenny District Court on charges relating to the event. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceShe was fined €300 for the Section 5 offence. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceShe was allowed five months to pay the fine. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe tea lights were placed for the Darkness Into Light charity event for Pieta House. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe court was told she had six previous convictions, mostly for traffic offences. (donegallive.ie)
- otherHer solicitor said she was somewhat intoxicated and upset on the night and deeply regretted what had happened. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe judge said what had happened at the event was unacceptable at every level. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Jul2024Woman abused gardai and damaged lights at Letterkenny Darkness Into Light event
Court report on the sentencing of a woman for public order offences from May 2022; no earlier article on this case is in the list.
convicted, Aine Little, 49, female, named, irish (judged from name)Aine Little