Coming up on Home and Away in Australia, Irene heads to court, facing the prospect of seven years in prison… will she be found guilty?
In upcoming episodes, Irene (Lynne McGranger) will eventually appear in court since she might perhaps go to jail for harbouring wanted fugitive Dana Matheson (Ally Harris).
At first, Irene didn’t even realise Dana was living with her. After responding to Irene’s post for a lodger, Dana’s sister Harper (Jessica Redmayne) travelled to the bay to ask her old acquaintance Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) for help with Dana’s case.
We didn’t realise Dana was with Harper until after she moved into the downstairs bedroom and slipped in via the window to share the bed.
The siblings were somewhat relieved when Irene left to visit her granddaughter, but Cash later discovered Dana during an unexpected visit. Dana was able to persuade Cash that going to the station with him would be throwing her to the wolves, despite his initial reaction ordering her to follow him.
Indeed as Cash further investigated, it became apparent that Dana had been set up by her ex-boyfriend Olly and corrupt city detective Will Madden (Jonny Pasvolsky).
When Irene later returned home and realised that there was someone hiding in Harper’s bedroom, the girls told Irene the whole story. She talked things over with Cash, who confirmed Dana’s innocence, and Irene agreed to help them, despite being warned what it could lead to.
Dana turned herself up to Madden as he increased the pressure and threatened to arrest her. However, Madden and his crony Fletcher (James Biasetto) kept her imprisoned in a deserted barn, saying she had fled while travelling to the station.
Madden attempted to kill Dana by injecting her with the very drug she was accused of stealing, but she was saved in the nick of time and rushed to hospital. When she later came to, she confirmed what Madden had done and he was arrested.
After that, Dana’s accusations were all withdrawn, but Cash was placed on administrative leave while the matter was looked into. Harper and Irene were foolish to believe that they would not be pursued by the authorities when Rose (Kirsty Marillier) had to forcibly arrest them both two weeks prior for obstructing a police investigation and providing sanctuary to a wanted person.
Given that they were all assisting a woman who was innocent but had been falsely accused by police corruption, Cash has been furious at the injustice of it all and has been unable to comprehend the police’s position. Cash has even talked about leaving the police entirely as a result.
Harper’s attorney warned her to avoid Irene because of her past criminal history when they spoke with her.
In 2019, Irene was accused of causing great bodily harm to Tommy O’Reilly after she discovered him attempting to sexually abuse Bella (Courtney Miller). Irene was put on a bond for good behaviour.
It hasn’t been reported, however, that Irene was previously convicted of stealing from her workplace in 1985, when she was an abusive drinker.
Lynne McGranger told TV Week, “The thought of going back to jail would be too much to bear.” “She ended up getting back on alcohol after her last stint in jail.”
For those who don’t recall, Irene was convicted and imprisoned for several weeks in 2009 when it was alleged that she had killed her partner Lou De Bono (David Roberts) while sailing.
Lou’s estranged wife Donna (Suzie McKenzie), certain of Irene’s culpability and aware that she was a beneficiary in his estate, paid a prison guard to give Irene alcohol in order to further damage Irene’s reputation.
Evidence of a third person aboard the boat led to Irene’s release, and later on it was discovered that Lou had been killed after getting into a fight with people smugglers Derrick Quaid (John Atkinson) and Hugo Austin (Bernard Curry) when he spotted their boat.
Irene has been putting off seeing her attorney Greta Hunt (Amanda McGregor), much to the dismay of her close friend John (Shane Withington), believing that she would simply confirm what she already knew—that she would be returning to prison.
Rewinding to the present, Greta welcomes Irene to the courtroom before to her hearing and tells her that the judge is a strict enforcer of the law. It will undoubtedly be a difficult battle, made worse by the prosecution’s desire for Irene to receive the maximum sentence of seven years in jail!
“She feels dreadful in court,” Lynne adds. “She thinks she’s gone for all money, because Rose had told her she could get seven years in jail.”
Irene is touched that Dana and Harper are there to support her, despite Irene telling them to take Harper’s lawyer’s advice and stay away from her.
With the judge appearing to show little sympathy in Irene’s case, Greta is becoming concerned, and announces to the court that Irene would like to make a statement. But given Irene’s previous record, it’s a bit of a gamble as to whether it will help.
Though terrified, Irene speaks from the heart as she explains her reasoning in choosing to help Dana.
Although it’s clear that Irene did the right thing morally, given the police corruption at hand, it’s not clear whether Irene’s speech has been enough to convince them.
The next day, a tearful Irene returns to court ready to hear her verdict… will she be heading to prison?
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