A repeat public order offender who shouted and roared at gardaí outside her mother’s home while drunk has been fined, with a court hearing that an abusive relationship and the death of her father drove her toward alcohol misuse.
Leah O’Toole (29), of Holly Court, Ballybrack, Dublin, pleaded guilty to public order offences and failing to appear in court arising from incidents in Ballybrack and Dún Laoghaire in May and June 2025.
Dún Laoghaire District Court heard that gardaí were called to the home of the defendant’s mother in Holly Court at around 9.55pm on May 18, 2025, where O’Toole was kicking the gate of the property.
When gardaí approached her, she began “shouting and roaring” at them. The court heard there was a smell of alcohol from her breath and she was intoxicated.
The offences before the court included threatening or abusive behaviour, intoxication in a public place and failing to appear before Dún Laoghaire District Court on June 4, 2025.
The court heard that O’Toole has 16 previous convictions, including six for public order offences, as well as convictions for criminal damage, assault causing harm, failing to provide a specimen and providing a false name and address under the Road Traffic Act.
Her most recent conviction was in July 2025 for a public order offence. The court also heard she was fined €150 at Bray District Court on May 26, 2025, and had another public order conviction in Wexford earlier this year.
Defence counsel, Michael O’Brien BL, said O’Toole is a mother of four and that most of the offending occurred over the past two to three years during an abusive relationship which drove her towards alcohol misuse. The court heard she has also struggled with serious alcohol issues since the death of her father.
Counsel said she completed a residential treatment programme last year and is continuing with aftercare services at Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Outreach Project.
The court heard O’Toole had been previously placed on a one-year probation bond by Judge Anne Watkin in April and is engaging well with treatment services.
Judge Conor Fottrell said O’Toole’s behaviour towards gardaí was “unacceptable”. “You were shouting and roaring at gardaí when they were trying to do their jobs”, the judge said.
However, the judge said he accepted she was going through personal difficulties and commended her for engaging with treatment.
Judge Fottrell convicted and fined her €100 on the intoxication charge and €150 on the public order offence, giving her six months to pay. The remaining matters were taken into consideration.