Derry woman placed her children 'at huge risk' during police chase
District Judge Oonagh Mullan grants conditional release after hearing details of a dramatic chase
A woman who was charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop for police while her two children were in the car 'placed these children at a huge risk' a judge at Derry Magistrate's Court has said today.
Amy Beattie (32) of Glenowen Park in Derry was charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, two counts of child cruelty, failing to provide a specimen of breath and possessing drugs on July 22.
A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.
The court heard that at 5.25pm a police patrol observed a car driven by Beattie performance a 3 point turn in the middle of the Northland Road In the city.
They signalled her to stop using lights and sirens and she was alleged to have taken off going against the flow of traffic and going through red lights.
Police pursued the vehicle and on several occasions other vehicles had to take evasive action to avoid a collision as Beattie allegedly drove against the flow of traffic.
As the vehicle headed to the Culmore Road it was said to have been travelling at 60mph before being stopped.
The defendant was unable to provide a sample when requested.
Beattie's two children were in the vehicle during the chase and a police officer opposed bail stating she was a 'danger to the public and the two children'.
Defence solicitor Paul McCrudden said his client had 'panicked' when she heard the sirens as she had a quantity of drugs on her.
He said she accepted her behaviour was 'unacceptable and reprehensible' for a mother to behave like this with two children in the car.
The solicitor said Beattie was 'terrified ' of going to prison and said bail conditions could be imposed to prevent her having unsupervised contact with the children.
District Judge Oonagh Mullan granted bail on condition that the defendant's mother acts as surety and Beattie has no contact with the children without the consent of social services.
Beattie will appear again on July 27.