Woman carried out assaults in the hospital

She was 50-year-old Marie Jordan, of Lakelands, Craigavon, and she admitted two charges of assault and one of disorderly behaviour on September 17 last year.

For each offence she was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years.

The court heard police were called to Rushmere Shopping Centre after reports of a female who refused to the leave toilets.

After negotiations the defendant opened the door and became abusive.

She eventually was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital where she was put in a room on her own because of her demeanour.

Jordan then struck a female officer in the chest and had to be handcuffed. She attempted to punch another officer and kicked at his legs. She was examined and later released.

A barrister representing the defendant said that since this incident there had been no further re-offending and there was nothing in the pipeline.

She added that it was very clear from a pre-sentence report that she had problems with alcohol. She was attending an addiction unit and could call on her sponsor from AA.

The lawyer said Jordan was struggling to abstain from alcohol but if she was drinking she would be removed from these programmes.

District Judge, Mr Alan White, said he took an extremely serious view of assaults committed in the hospital.

He told Jordan her behaviour was absolutely disgraceful and outrageous and she had caused upset and distress to others who needed treatment.

He warned her that if she continued with behaviour like this she was going to go to prison.

Mr White added that the suspended sentence should be an incentive to her to stay off alcohol.