Three in court over Kilkenny city scene of chaos

Maudlin Street in Kilkenny City

In court was Martin Lyons, 46 Springfield Park, Carlow; Emma Wallace, The Cork Simon Community, Andersons Quay, Cork; and Niall Murphy, Hillview, Baunreagh, Carlow.

Mr Lyons is charged with 10 offences: two counts of assault causing harm, one count of attempted robbery, one count of failing or refusing to provide a sample of blood or urine, one count of being intoxicated in public, three counts of theft, one count of dangerous driving and one count of being in possession of knives or other articles with the intention to cause injury contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

The court heard that on Saturday afternoon Mr Lyons is alleged to have driven down a one-way street in the wrong direction. Members of the public tried to flag down the vehicle to stop it.

This is when, it is alleged, Mr Lyons and his passenger Ms Wallace, exited the vehicle and assaulted people on the street.
A garda said one man was hit a number of times into the face and was kicked while on the ground. This man was taken to St Luke’s Hospital where he was treated for a fracture to his hand and facial swelling.

Mr Lyons then went back to the car and took a wheelbrace from the boot, the garda said, and demanded money from a second person. The man was not injured and no money was handed over, but the man was put in fear.

Garda investigations discovered that Mr Lyons played a part in a theft, earlier that day, from JD Sports, Fairgreen, Carlow, the garda alleged. Mr Lyons had driven Ms Wallace from there in the same vehicle.

Both Mr Lyons and Ms Wallace were arrested at Maudlin Street.

Emma Wallace is charged with six offences: two counts of assault; one public order offence; and three counts of theft.
The garda alleged that Ms Wallace had taken items worth €370 from JD Sports in Carlow, without paying. Mr Lyons was with her but she selected all the items.

Ms Wallace was a passenger in the car. When she exited the car on Maudlin Street Ms Wallace punched a female in the face, causing a nose bleed, the garda said. She also punched a second female.
The garda said Ms Wallace was highly intoxicated and arrested for her own safety.

When the vehicle was searched the items from JD Sports were found.
Also found in the car were a handbag, reported as stolen from a bar in Carlow, and a mobile phone reported stolen from a Carlow pub in a separate incident.

Garda enquiries turned up CCTV footage of Ms Wallace at a hotel in Castlecomer holding the bag and the phone, the garda said.

The court was told that Ms Wallace is addicted to methadone and had recently been in residential treatment. She relapsed within 24 hours of her release.

Also charged was Niall Murphy. He is charged with: possession of stolen property; no insurance; and being intoxicated in public. All on October 4, 2025, at Maudlin Street.

There was no objection to bail for Mr Murphy and he was granted bail on conditions including that he remain of sober habits, sign on at a garda station three times a week, observe a curfew from 11pm to 7am and have no contact with the injured parties.

Gardaí objected to bail for Mr Lyons and Ms Wallace, on several grounds.
Solicitor Chris Hogan represented both these two defendants.

Mr Lyons lives with his mother in Carlow, Mr Hogan said. It will take some time for gardaí to prepare what will be a ‘complex’ book of evidence, there will be delays and the possibility the case will go to the circuit court.

The solicitor asked the court to grant bail to Mr Lyons, who was prepared to obey conditions attached.
Sergeant Morgan O’Connor said he would not be satisfied with any conditions.

Refusing bail for Mr Lyons, Judge Aine Clancy said she was taking into account a number of factors. He was remanded in custody.

Mr Hogan said that Ms Wallace had been homeless in Cork for most of her adult life. The methadone she had been taking had been prescribed and she went into residential treatment to detox from that.
He argued that there could be a significant time before the case came to hearing.

Judge Clancy granted bail to Ms Wallace on conditions including she lodge a sum of cash and an independent surety. If this is taken up she must sign on at a garda station three times a week, reside at a noted address, observe a curfew from 11pm to 7am, have no contact with the injured parties and stay away from Carlow and Kilkenny apart from court appearances and consultations with her legal representative.

Mr Hogan said that given his client’s homeless status she would not be in a position to take up that bail. Ms Wallace was remanded in custody with consent to bail.
Legal aid was granted in respect of all three accused.