A CASTLEBAR girl who appeared before the local district court last week has explained how she has learned how easily life can spiral out of control after she met with a man in Limerick Prison for murder.
Stacey Gray (18) of 37, Fr Meehan Place, went to Limerick Prison as part of a project organised by a Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer and told Judge Mary Devins who it had served as a stark reminder to her.
She told the court that this man had explained to her how he was drinking and using drugs on the night in question and got into a row, kicked a man in his head and killed him and that he was now in prison for murder.
Judge Devins interjected and noted that the very same could happen to Ms Gray, which the defendant concurred with.
She appeared before the court charged with assault on David Brennan at the Castle Street Car Park in Castlebar on October 16 last. Garda Gerard Dillon read a statement from Mr Brennan in which he said he was confronted by Ms Gray after an acquaintance of the defendant kicked the wing mirror off his car. The statement said that Gray repeatedly punched Brennan, ripped his t-shirt off and got even more agitated when Brennan tried to ring the Gardaí and tried to pull his pants down.
Kevin Burke, solicitor for Stacey Gray, told the court that his client had been drinking heavily at the time and has since dealt with that particular problem. Stacey Gray told the court that she realised how she resorted to physical violence to deal with issues in her life but had seen the error of her ways, thanks in some part to her visit to Limerick Prison.
Two other charges weren’t heard on the day and Judge Mary Devins adjourned the matter until September 1 for a probation report to be submitted.
