Ahern cream pie thrower in court

A woman who threw a cream pie at Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during this year’s General Election campaign today agreed to carry out community service rather than go to jail.

Bairbre Flood, 27, from Ballinacarrow, Co Sligo, pleaded guilty to a public order offence last April when she appeared in court today.

Through her solicitor, Ms Flood said she was frustrated with politicians in general and had no specific agenda against Mr Ahern or his Fianna Fail party when she threw the pie at the Taoiseach in Sligo.

But Circuit Judge Oliver McGuinness said the incident had been no run-of-the-mill public order offence, describing it as premeditated, rather than off-the-cuff, and an attack on democracy and society.

The judge added that it had been a calculated effort to insult and demean and embarrass in the full glare of all the attendant publicity.

He declared that jail would be an appropriate punishment for such an offence, as well as sending out a message to anybody considering a similar thing.

However, he said he would give Ms Flood the alternative of community service and the opportunity to put something back into society.

Ms Flood agreed to undertake community service and she was remanded on continuing bail until December 19 for a community service report.