County Derry woman who subjected teenage girls to sectarian abuse sentenced to probation and community service

A Ballykelly woman who subjected three teenage girls to sectarian abuse has been told by a judge that her behaviour was 'disgraceful'.

Kelli Moore, of Churchill Road, appeared before Limavady Magistrates Court, sitting in Coleraine Courthouse, this morning for sentencing having previously been convicted of seven offences.

The 30 year-old was charged with three counts of harassment and three counts of common assault.

The victims in the case were three girls, aged between 13 years-old and 14 years-old.

Moore was further charged with disorderly behaviour.

All offences were committed on dates between October 26 and November 7 2022.

The court heard that some of the offences first came to light on October 26 last year after police received a report from a staff member at St Mary's High School in Limavady who stated that three young pupils at the school had been victims of sectarian abuse from a female adult.

Police spoke to the three children and one of them stated that she had been sitting at the bus stop at Clooney Road, Ballykelly earlier that morning when Moore walked past with a young boy and spat on her shoe. The young girl said Moore got on a bus and make a 'w***er sign' out the window towards her.

The young girls also stated that they were sitting at the bus stop on a different date when Moore walked by staring at them.

The girls said Moore shouted at one of them: “Do you have a staring problem, you fenian b*****d?”

The court heard that Moore continued to be abusive towards the girls and left them crying.

After being identified via a VIPER procedure, Moore was interviewed. She admitted being at the bus stop on the dates in question however she denied the offences.

The court heard following this, the girls saw Moore on a third date, during which she gave the fingers to them.

District Judge Peter King said the fact that Moore has an 11 year-old son made her behaviour towards the young girls 'even more inexplicable'.

Defence barrister Stephen Chapman said Moore's behaviour was 'not acceptable' and asked the judge to consider not imposing an immediate custodial sentence.

Addressing Moore, District Judge Peter King told her the behaviour complained of was 'disgraceful'.

He said the language she used 'indicated a sectarian animus' adding 'the fact that it was directed at children who are 13 and 14 beggars belief'.

Judge King went on to say that the three children 'were completely and utterly blameless and were victimised' by an adult who is also a mother herself.

He told Moore that the impact of her behaviour on the children was evident by the victim impact reports which were before him.

In order to 'protect' the three children, Judge King told Moore that he was imposing restraining orders which prohibit her from contacting the victims for the next three years.

In addition, Judge King imposed an enhanced combination order of two years' probation and 180 hours community service.

The judge warned Moore if she breached any of the orders imposed by the court, she would face a prison sentence.