Woman admits assault on police

A 22-year-old woman grabbed a police woman's little finger and bent it back so much it fractured, Craigavon Magistrates Court heard last Friday.

Danielle Donaldson, from Ballynery North Road near Portadown, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on May 12 this year. She also pleaded guilty to assaulting an officer and resisting an officer.

The court heard that around 8pm police were called to the Simon Community at Flush Place in Lisburn.

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Staff there wanted Donaldson’s bail address revoked because of her behaviour as she was under the influence.

At 8.20pm she was arrested for breach of bail and when she was put in the police vehicle she began hitting her head off the window.

The vehicle was stopped and Donaldson grabbed an officer by her little finger and bent it back causing a fracture.

On the motorway she said she had taken an overdose and went limp so police took her to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

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There she became aggressive and made as if she was going to head-butt an officer in the face before kicking out and hitting them in the chest.

Mr Conor Downey, representing Donaldson, said there had been a marked change in her behaviour until this lapse.

He added that she was a different person to the one who behaved in “this reprehensible way”.

District Judge Peter King said it was very difficult to see how the defendant could avoid immediate custody after fracturing a police officer’s finger.

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Mr Downey said Donaldson had a difficulty with alcohol and drug abuse but since she had served her last sentence she had re-engaged with various organisations.

Judge King deferred sentencing until March 10 next year.

“If there is no offending in that time the disposal will keep you in the community, but any form of reoffending you will be going to prison for between five and eight months,” the judge warned Donaldson.

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