A judge has asked Gardaí to bring a pregnant woman to a maternity hospital for a scheduled pregnancy scan en route to escorting the mother of five to Limerick prison.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan admitted that the court request to Gardaí concerning Annie Joyce’s (30) pregnancy scan “is very unusual”.

Judge Durcan asked that the maternity hospital in Limerick be advised of the situation and that Ms Joyce can be brought there securely by Gardaí.

Judge Durcan said, “I appreciate that there are additional pressures with Covid-19” and in response to Judge Durcan’s request, Sgt Louis Moloney told the judge: “We will do our best.”

Judge Durcan made his request after solicitor for Ms Joyce (30) of St Enda’s, Beechpark, Ennis, Tara Godfrey alerted the judge that her client is pregnant and was due to have a medical scan at midday on Thursday at the maternity hospital in Limerick.

Ms Godfrey made Judge Durcan aware that Ms Joyce was pregnant after he rejected a bail application for the Ennis woman and remanded her in custody to Limerick prison.

Earlier in court, Ms Godfrey stated that Ms Joyce has five small children aged 11 years to 11 months old and that her baby boy is turning one next Thursday.

Judge Durcan stated that the accused is facing “serious allegations” concerning a number of alleged thefts of goods valued at almost €2,000 from a number of retail outlets.

In the case, Ms Joyce is charged with the theft of €250 worth of clothing from Elvery’s at the Parkway shopping centre, Dublin Road, Limerick, on September 13, 2019.

Ms Joyce is also charged with the theft of €500 worth of items a Supervalu in Donegal town on December 6, 2019.

Ms Joyce is also charged with the theft of €536 of Christmas fare at Kees Spar in County Donegal on December 15, 2019.

Ms Joyce is also facing two other theft charges totalling €600 with the latest alleged to have occurred on January 22 last.

Ms Godfrey told the court, “The evidence against my client has yet to be tested but she will be robustly contesting the charges.”

Ms Godfrey stated that “other people are also considered in these thefts. There is more than one person in the frame for these thefts”.

Ms Godfrey told the court that Ms Joyce “has strong ties to the community, she resides in the community and is not at risk of flight”.

Ms Godfrey stated that three of Ms Joyce’s children are enrolled in Ennis primary schools.

Ms Godfrey said, “She is a mother who always has her children to the fore in her life.”

Ms Godfrey told Judge Durcan that her client “is a very vulnerable, fragile woman and someone who has huge responsibilities to her family”.

Ms Godfrey stated that Ms Joyce “has significant psychiatric issues and has been under psychiatric assistance for some time”.

Refusing bail, Judge Durcan directed that the Child and Family Agency (CFA) be made aware of his remand in custody order in terms of the care of the five children and Ms Godfrey stated that their grandmother will be able to care for them.

It is now open to Ms Joyce to seek High Court bail.

By Gordon Deegan