Derry woman receives suspended sentence for wasting police time
Derry woman Philomena Curran was charged with the offence that occurred last May
A woman has appeared at Derry Magistrates’ Court charged with wasting police time.
Philomena Curran (47) of Glenabbey Crescent in Derry was charged with the offence that occurred on May 18 last year, when Curran said that she was going to self harm.
Police arrived later in the night and found Curran in bed, where she appeared irate at being woken up.
Curran then lifted a safety razor and nail clippers, telling police that she was suicidal. She refused to go to the hospital, saying that she didn't want to spend the night there as she had work in the morning.
She was subsequently arrested for wasting police time.
Defence solicitor Jack Quigley said that the offence was accepted and asked for credit for Curran's guilty plea.
He offered 'an explanation rather than an excuse', telling the court that she has previously been diagnosed with learning difficulties but hasn't committed any similar offences since January 2020.
District Judge Conor Heaney told Curran that it is 'a significant offences' to call the police for a false report, and that 'the court takes it seriously'.
He sentenced her to three months in custody, suspended for eighteen months.