Jail for woman who robbed girls (13) and kicked them in face

Date Published: 30-May-2011

A woman who knocked two 13 years old schoolgirls to the ground, where she kicked them to the face and robbed one of her phone, was sentenced to 18 months in prison when she came before Galway District Court yesterday.

Josephine Mongan (22), with an address at 24 Gaelcarraig Park, Newcastle, had pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and with being drunk in public at Old Monivea Road on April 12 last.

Her co-accused, Joanna Crawford (21), with addresses at 47 Corrach Bui, Rahoon, and 20 Gilmartin Road, Tuam, pleaded guilty to robbery and with being threatening and abusive, and drunk, in public on the same occasion.

As she was being led away from the court by five Gardaí the mother of three shouted: “Sort the two little whores out.”Garda Denise Kellegher told the court that the two defendants approached the injured parties, who were dressed in school uniforms at the time, looking for cigarettes on the date in question.

When they replied that they had none, and as they attempted to get away, Mongan pulled one of them to the ground, causing her mobile phone to fall out.The two women became very aggressive, and demanded cigarettes and money. Mongan then turned her attention to the second school girl, also knocked her to the ground, and kicked both to their stomach and face. She emptied the second girl’s schoolbag onto the ground looking for her mobile phone, but did not find one. She then produced a broken bottle from inside her jacket and threatened both with it.

The teenagers fled to the home of one of their brothers. He took them out in his car to find the women, who were subsequently arrested.

The defendants were in such an intoxicated state at the time of arrest – having consumed a cocktail of drugs and alcohol – that a doctor said they could not be questioned for six hours.

The court heard that Mongan had 18 previous convictions, among them numerous for theft, for which she received prison sentences.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy imposed a nine month prison sentence each for the theft charges, and took the third matter into account.

Hearing that Crawford had 17 previous convictions, including those for assault, theft and public order – for which she received a suspended sentence in December – Judge McCarthy remanded the defendant in custody to appear before the Judge who imposed the penalty, Judge Mary Fahy, on June 8.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel