'They are all known drug users in Newbridge' - garda tells Kildare court

A woman appeared at Naas District Court after a man was robbed of €40 and house keys.

Before the court was Shauna Lawlor (33), whose address was given as Apartment 1 Rowanville, Eyre Street, Newbridge on an allegation of taking the money and keys from a man at Station Road, Newbridge, on March 24, 2025.

Garda Daryl Ryan told of arresting the woman in Dublin on February 10 and charging her early the following morning.

Gda Ryan said it will be alleged the defendant and two others robbed the injured party. He added they are known to each other.

He said there was an altercation between three people and the injured party.

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The garda said two others had already been charged and the incident was caught on CCTV.

He alleged that straight after the robbery they went to the home of the injured party and took items.

"They're all known drug users in Newbridge," the garda said, adding that they are "around together”, know each other and stay in each other's apartments.

The garda said the defendant had been on temporary release and stayed two nights elsewhere before leaving and she was “unlawfully at large.”

He told solicitor Brian Larkin that the injured party is a homeless man, who was not present at that sitting “but I believe he will assist the investigation.”

He agreed that the defendant “is not the worst” when she is not taking substances.

Judge Desmond Zaidan commented that the woman is a product of a failed drug rehabilitation system in Ireland “going back decades.”

He initially remanded the woman in custody.