Judge suspends jail term for woman with history of addiction
CARLOW Circuit Court heard last Thursday how a 39-year-old woman who has been before the courts on numerous occasions arising from a chronic addiction to heroin since her early teens is currently facing a lengthy period in custody stretching to late 2028.
Rhianna Keating, 30 St Killian’s Crescent, Carlow appeared before Judge Mary Morrissey in relation to a section 99 re-entry matter concerning a one-year suspended sentence previously imposed by Judge Kelly, arising from charges of theft, burglary and assault of a garda. Ms Keating had received a three-year sentence in August 2024 for the assault charge, with the final year suspended.
State prosecutor Brian O’Shea noted that Ms Keating is currently serving a sentence, having been convicted in November 2025 of a number of further offences, including robbery, for which she received four years and six months, and three counts of burglary, for each of which she received two years and six months. That sentence began in April 2025.
Defence solicitor Tara Geoghegan questioned the garda giving evidence, who confirmed that Ms Keating is well known to the courts, that both offences were committed while she was in “the throes of addiction”, that she has a long history of substance misuse, that she had no recollection of committing the offences and that she had entered guilty pleas in all matters.
In mitigation, Ms Geoghegan told the court that her client’s history of drug misuse stretches back to her early teens, when she began taking heroin at the age of 15.
Counsel said Ms Keating has the support of her mother, who regularly attends court on her behalf. She is currently engaging with services while in custody and is prescribed 60 millilitres of methadone daily, reduced from a higher initial dose indicating, Ms Geoghegan said, that her client is “making good strides”.
The court also heard that Ms Keating has significant mental health difficulties and is finding her time in custody particularly hard due to issues of prison overcrowding. With a release date not expected until late 2028, Ms Geoghegan made an application that the suspended portion of the sentence not be activated.
“There is a long road in custody ahead of her,” she said.
Judge Morrissey said she would activate the suspended year, but would suspend it on conditions, including that Ms Keating enter into her own bond of €100, be of good behaviour and fully engage with all available services, including mental health supports and addiction counselling.
