Admitted to carrying out three assaults

Thirty-six-year-old Cathy Ruddell, whose address was given as Parkmore, Craigavon, appeared last Wednesday at the local magistrates’ court.

She pleaded guilty to an assault on a male person and two assaults on two different females on April 22 this year.

The court heard that at 1.35am police were tasked to an address in Craigavon after a report of an assault.

They spoke to the injured party who said she had been standing by the kitchen table at her mother’s address when the defendant punched her on the left side of the back of her head.

Ruddell arrived back at the address with her brother who was armed with a hockey stick. A second injured party said he told him: “You are a fenian b—d and you have 24 hours to get out of Parkmore.”

Ruddell got back into the property and punched a female in the right eye with a lot of force. The eye was marked and the skin appeared to be broken.

During interview Ruddell admitted going to the address in a bad temper. She admitted arguing with two females but denied assaulting them.

Police were satisfied what she did was not connected to any sectarian hatred.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said Ruddell had a record but it went back a bit, however, with three assaults he felt a pre-sentence report would be required.

He also told Ruddell he may have to consider compensation for the victims.

The case was adjourned until October 29 so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.