A woman has been jailed for six months for coughing at two paramedics in an ambulance and telling them: “I have the virus”.
Judge Patrick Durcan told Ennis District Court in Co Clare that Rebecca Blunnie’s drunken behaviour on April 10 last “was of an absolutely appalling nature”.
Blunnie, 30, of Pella Rd, Kilrush, West Clare, had pleaded guilty to the assault of paramedics, David Meaney and Frank Greaney at Dunogrogue, Killimer, on April 10th.
Sgt Aiden Lonergan stated that the two paramedics were within one metre of Blunnie when she coughed in the confined space of an ambulance and stated that she had the virus.
Judge Durcan: “On that date, this country was in a maelstrom in the middle of the worst public health crisis that has ever been experienced here.”
He stated that on April 10 Ireland was in virtual ‘lock-down’ and business had ground to a halt and citizens were in fear and despite all of that, Blunnie gave appalling abuse to “these two decent men” of the ambulance service.
Judge Durcan stated that in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, “ambulance service personnel were laying their lives on the line day in and day out to assist people who were genuinely ill”.
The judge said that in her drunken, selfish stupor, Blunnie had an ambulance sent for her.
Blunnie told the ambulance men “I have the virus’ and coughed in their direction at a time when the country was in high alert and high fear, the judge said.
He added that Blunnie - who has 43 previous convictions - “has an appalling record”.
Sgt Lonergan stated that Blunnie ‘smirked’ after coughing in the direction of the two paramedics - Blunnie denied this in court.
Blunnie told the court previously: “It was just a joke. I didn’t mean to do it” and later added “I don’t have the virus”.
Sgt Lonergan stated that the ambulance crew were called to the address in response to a call concerning Blunnie’s state of intoxication and she was being treated by the ambulance crew in the back of the ambulance.
Solicitor for Blunnie, Monica Roche told the court that her client sincerely apologises to the paramedics and the Gardai for her actions.
Ms Roche stated: “Ms Blunnie accepts that it was very serious in the light of the current pandemic and she regrets her actions and never meant to cause any harm. She accepts that she did cause great distress to people who were only doing her job.”
Ms Roche stated that Blunnie was highly intoxicated on the night.
