A man and woman damaged a car in Keady after social media allegations. Both received suspended sentences.
Pauline Maughan, 24, and Patrick Joyce, 26, appeared in court. They live at the same address in Clogher. Maughan faced criminal damage charges, while Joyce faced aiding and abetting charges.
Police patrolled Keady’s Fairgreen Park. A distressed woman approached them on December 18, 2022, saying her Ford Ranger was wrecked.
Both offside windows were smashed completely, and the windscreen was also smashed. Dents marked the door panels and bonnet. A hard object seemed to repeatedly hit the car.
CCTV showed a silver Vauxhall drive by the house. Two people exited and ran to the Ford Ranger. They attacked the vehicle with force.
Joyce drove the two assailants. Afterward, he watched the damage unfold. Then, all three left the area together quickly.
The victim and her husband told police who did it. They identified Maughan and Joyce clearly. Their statements named those responsible.
Police questioned Joyce. He stayed silent during the whole interview. Police asked if he wished to add anything. Again, he remained silent.
Maughan also gave a “no comment” interview. Police showed her CCTV footage and asked her about her movements that night. The complainants’ statements were presented, but she offered no comment to anything.
Maughan’s lawyer spoke about her suspended sentence, which was imposed after this incident occurred. He stated she needed to change her conduct. This would help her become useful to society and benefit her children too.
Joyce’s lawyer argued for a distinction in involvement. He acknowledged Joyce drove the car from his address to Armagh. They went because of social media allegations involving his brother and his partner.
The lawyer claimed their plan was just to confront people. He claimed the damage was not his intention and said Joyce dislikes feuds and violence. He wants to apologize to those involved.
Joyce has eight prior convictions in the past six or seven years.
The judge saw no real difference between them. He thought Joyce knew wrong was likely, noting it was lucky only the car was damaged. Disputes can harm people, not just property; this was only an attack on a car.
The Judge said things were escalating between them both. He noted nothing had happened since then, fortunately.
Both traveled from Clogher to Keady. This signaled planned wrongdoing, the judge believed. He thought they intended to damage the car, and it was lucky that was all that occurred.
The court gave both a suspended sentence. It was ten months, suspended for three years. Both must pay £500 compensation each, and they have 26 weeks to pay off the fine.