Gardaí taser woman at Ballina school

Gardaí taser woman at Ballina school


Áine Ryan

BALLINA gardaí were forced to use a taser gun to overcome a woman who entered St Muredach’s Secondary School on Friday last wielding a nine-inch kitchen knife. Dramatic scenes ensued shortly before 9.30am after she entered the school and asked for Mr Leo Golden, the Principal.
Reportedly, the woman challenged Mr Golden about a position she claimed she was entitled to at the school before producing the knife while threatening and verbally abusing him.
Concerned staff immediately contacted the gardaí who quickly arrived at the scene. Efforts to calm the woman failed and they were forced to call-in the armed Regional Response Unit and a trained hostage negotiator.
Meanwhile, students were told over the intercom system to remain in their classrooms.
When efforts by the garda negotiator failed to calm the woman enough to detain her, a decision was made to bring the situation to an end by using a taser gun. The woman was then taken to Ballina Garda Station where she was seen by a doctor and subsequently admitted to hospital for psychiatric treatment.
School continued after she was escorted from the building.