Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH04
A 19-year-old Tempo woman who assaulted two police officers in an alcohol fuelled attack has been given 100 hours of community service. Lisa McConnell, of Glen Road was convicted at Enniskillen Magistrates Court.
The prosecutor outlined that on September 7, 2015 at 1.35am police were called to a disturbance at the Cornerstone bar in Enniskillen. A fight had broken out between a man and McConnell. Police attended and while speaking to the man McConnell slapped the female officer from behind on her arm and shouted abuse at the man.
McConnell was arrested and while being escorted out of the premises to the police vehicle she threw a glass that was in her hand on the pavement, smashing it. McConnell was further arrested for disorderly behaviour.
At this point a crowd had gathered outside the pub and officers struggled to restrain McConnell, telling her to calm down, to which she replied: “Get the f*** off me, what have I been arrested for?” She then kicked a male officer on a number of occasions and had to be handcuffed to the rear of the police vehicle with the assistance of a third officer.
McConnell continued to be abusive and at the police station a search was carried out and a small packet of controlled drugs was recovered. The drugs were found in the defendant’s purse. During interview McConnell said that her initial contact with the female police officer was the result of a stumble and was accidental. She admitted hitting the other police officer as she stated he was “hurting her”. She told police the drugs recovered were cannabis and for her own personal use.
Defence solicitor Michael Fahy stated that the initial contact between McConnell and police was innocent and unintentional. He handed in two letters from the Western Trust and the defendant’s GP indicating her difficulties with alcohol and the progress she had made in dealing with her problem.
Mr Fahy said the crux of McConnell’s offending was an attitude problem when she came into contact with law and order and stated that she uses alcohol as an inhibitor.
The defence said that McConnell presents herself as a very polite and unassuming young woman, but alcohol changes her demeanour. He said the defendant hopes to continue with alcohol counselling to change her behaviour and asked for credit for her early guilty plea.
Speaking directly to McConnell district judge Nigel Broderick issued a warning regarding her future conduct: “You’re going to have to stop this behaviour with alcohol because a young lady like you is going to end up in custody.”
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