Enniskillen Courthouse
A LISNASKEA woman who climbed out of an upstairs window of her house and onto a porch to escape from police subsequently handed herself in, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.
Nichola Philomena Leonard (22) from Trasna Way admitted a charge of obstructing police last month and was fined £100.
On July 10 police called to the defendant’s home to execute an outstanding bench warrant on her.
Police were met at the front door of the house by the defendant and her partner and it was explained to her she was going to be arrested.
At this the defendant’s partner became aggressive and then two other men came to the front door from inside the house.
The defendant’s partner tried to block police from getting into the house and was abusive to officers.
At this point, the defendant ran through the house and out into the back garden. Police followed her and she asked the officers if she could change her clothes before being taken away.
She then ran through the house again and up the stairs. Police followed the defendant and by the time they got upstairs she had her t-shirt off, as she was changing, and became angry at police, accusing them of looking at her while she was changing.
Police explained to the defendant she was an arrested person and they had to take her to the station.
Her partner then began to laugh saying, ‘she’s gone’.
When police went to look for the defendant they found the front window of the house open, which opened onto a front porch, and there was no sign of the defendant.
A few hours later, the defendant phoned police to say she was now willing to co-operate with them.
Her barrister Stephen Mooney said one of the reasons his client was upset at the arrival of police was she had young children in the house.
He accepted she had ‘a modest’ record and he told the court she apologised for her behaviour.
District Judge Liam McNally said he would take into account her guilty plea and the fact there was no obstruction on her record, and that she did give herself up.
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