'Last chance' for Cullybackey woman who was disorderly
A Cullybackey woman who was disorderly at Whitesides' Corner near Ballymena.
Heather McCarroll (40), of Kilmakevit Square, was at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday (December 11).
As well as being disorderly on September 21 she also admitted driving with excess alcohol in breath; failing to provide a preliminary breath test; and insurance and driving licence offences on September 21 this year.
A prosecutor said that at 12.40am police attended the junction of Whitesides' Road and Glebe Road following a report from a member of the public that a car had been "driving all over the road" and had struck a kerb and had driven over a footpath. The rear tyre had burst after hitting a kerb.
Police saw the defendant standing beside the car and alcohol could be smelt from her breath.
The prosecutor said: "When the defendant overheard that a female officer was going to search her she became irate and removed her top. Police pleaded with her to calm down however she persisted in shouting and screaming at the top of her voice."
She had an alcohol in breath reading of 73 - the legal limit is 35.
A defence barrister said the there had been a "social outcry" when the defendant was previously at court in connection with incidents on a plane.
He said her car windows were broken and she received "abuse online and in person". The barrister said the defendant has "mental and physical health" issues and "vulnerabilities".
He said she was remorseful and was thankful nobody was hurt due to her driving. The barrister said the defendant had reacted "poorly" when police handcuffed her. He said the defendant was very aware that this is the "last chance".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said there was "every reason" why the defendant should be jailed but instead he put in place an Enhanced Combination Order (ECO) of 100 hours of Community Service and 18 months Probation.
He said an ECO is "not an easy option" and many people who do them say "it would be easier to go to prison". The judge said there is a "zero tolerance policy" with an ECO with no chances.
He told her if she didn't co-operate fully she would be "brought straight back" to court and he would activate a suspended sentence the defendant had been given for the airplane incident.
As well as the ECO, the judge re-suspended the four months prison term for two years. The defendant was also banned from driving for three years.
He told her: "Consider yourself very lucky. If you cross over the line again, straight to prison."