Clare mother of seven who attempted to break into couple's bedroom 'was completely out of control'

A 33-year old Co Clare mother of seven “was completely out of control and had eyes bulging out of her head like a rabbit with Myxomatosis” when trying to break into a couple’s bedroom late at night at a house in east Clare last July.

In the case, Mary Cashin and her partner, Gerry Reynolds were woken at 1am in the morning on July 1st when Laura Molloy was trying to break in to their bedroom through a partially opened window at their home at Cuinne an Bhroic, Tulla in east Clare.

In evidence, Garda Niall Naughton said that Mary Cashin was woken up at 1am from her sleep by banging and crashing on her window.

Garda Naughton said both the couple and Ms Molloy live in a new Clare Co Council estate of Cuinne An Bhroic in Tulla.

He said that Ms Cashin “woke up to see Laura Molloy trying to force her way into her bedroom through her window”.

Garda Naughton said that Ms Cashin described Laura Molloy “as being out of control and eyes popping out of her head and screaming ‘I’ll kill you’ over and over”.

Garda Naughton said that Gerry Reynolds was woken by the sounds and saw Laura Molloy “screaming at his partner”.

Garda Naughton said that Mr Reynolds told Gardai that Ms Molloy was “completely out of control and had eyes bulging out of her head like a rabbit with Myxomatosis”.

Garda Naughton said that Mary Cashin and Gerry Reynolds were in total shock and fear and Laura Molloy made serious threats against Ms Cashin.

Garda Naughton said that during the course of the incident, as Ms Cashin was trying to close the window, Laura Molloy grabbed her arm.

Garda Naughton said that eye-witnesses described Laura Molloy as being on a rampage that night in the estate.

In the case, Ms Molloy pleaded guilty to trespass in a manner to cause fear in another person and Judge Alec Gabbett imposed a suspended four month prison term on Ms Molloy for the offence.

Garda Naughton said that Ms Molloy was high intoxicated and very paranoid on the night saying that “lasers were putting excrement into her skin”.

Garda Naughton said that the incident left Mary Cashin in a severe state of shock and Sgt John Burke said that Ms Cashin had provided a lengthy victim impact statement to the court.

Solicitor, Daragh Hassett said that his client, Laura Molloy wants to apologise for her actions on the night saying that she was out of control.

Mr Hassett said that Ms Molloy was fortunate to get a house at the Council estate saying that this was the first house that she ever lived in after living in a compound in Ennis before that.

Mr Hassett said that Ms Molloy lost her husband to suicide and she had his head stone erected a number of weeks ago and that might bring a bit of closure.

Mr Hassett said that Ms Molloy couldn’t sleep at night and was raising seven children on her own. Mr Hassett said that Ms Molloy hasn’t offended since.

Judge Gabbett said that if he was to jail Ms Molloy he would have to deal with seven Interim Care Order applications for the children later in court. Judge Gabbett said that he wanted to put in place a deterrent suspending the four month prison term for two years.

Judge Gabbett also imposed a €200 fine on Ms Molloy who has 15 previous convictions including five public order offences but had no conviction since 2019.