Women abused officers at family occasion

TWO Coleraine women verbally abused an Indian police officer following a family christening, a court heard.

Mary Teresa Kennedy (37) and Philomena Neill (43) appeared before North Antrim Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday.

The pair are both charged with assault on police and disorderly behaviour.

Court heard that police were called to the Montra Club in Coleraine on February 10 this year, following reports that a man on the premises, was in breach of his High Court bail.

On arrival police entered the pool room of the club and arrested the male in question.

As this was happening, Neill became abusive to police shouting “you black B__ds”.

Neill, of Westbourne Crescent, persisted and was told to stop by police. However, she continued to swear, shouting racial slurs at one of the officers.

She was then arrested, but broke free from handcuffs and continued to shout racial abuse at the officer.

Kennedy of Westbourne Crescent, was also abusive to police. She protested to officers that police had interrupted a christening and that they “should have waited”.

A solicitor for the pair, Garrett Greene, described the incident as an “unfortunate set of circumstances”.

He said that both women had been attending a family christening, when seven police cars arrived.

Mr Greene said that Mrs Neill had felt a ‘degree of frustration’ that the man police had come for had attended the christening.

He added that Neill did accept that she was disorderly, and felt that she was responsible for the presence of the police in the first place.

Mr Greene said that Kennedy was more known to the court, and added that she had spotted her friend in trouble and had intervened.

“It was a case that trouble found them,” said Mr Greene. “One gentleman created this mayhem and this was the trail of destruction that was left behind.”

District Judge Richard Wilson warned the pair about their inappropriate behaviour. He fined Neill 300.

Sentencing was deferred for Kennedy, as the offences put her in breach of a suspended sentence.

A pre sentence report will be completed on Kennedy, and she will appear back before the court on May 12.

Mr Wilson warned Kennedy: “There is a distinct possibility that you will be going to jail.”

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