Woman charged with breaching bail and assaulting police officers

A woman, described as having 'serious mental health issues', has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with breaching bail and assaulting police officers.

Katie Bowers (35) of Herron Way in Derry was charged with, on January 6, multiple counts of assaulting police officers causing actual bodily harm.

Police were initially called to a woman standing on the wrong side of the railings by the River Foyle with her one year old child in her arms. 

When police approached, Bowers was said to have became volatile, holding her son in a headlock as police tried to remove him from her arms.

Police then tried to restrain her and she proceeded to punch an officer in the jaw before repeatedly attacking them, injuring her own hand in the process.

Bowers then attempted to bite an officer but didn't manage to break skin.

Upon being put into the police Landrover, Bowers proceeded to headbutt the floor of the van, scratching an officer and leaving an abrasion as they attempted to stop her injuring herself further.

When asked to give a breath sample, Bowers refused.

She was described as having clear issues with alcohol and her mental health and police say she is a danger to herself, her child and police officers, objecting to bail as they believe she is at risk of reoffending.

Appearing via SightLink Bowers claimed that she was simply walking with her son in John Street when police attempt to grab the child out of her arms.

She also admitted to punching the officer in the jaw but claimed she couldn't have carried out the other attacks as she was in handcuffs and leg restraints and telling court that, while she had refused a breath test, she did give blood and urine samples.

District Judge Barney McElhom called this claim 'somewhat bizarre', as the breath test is the least invasive of the three, adding that he was 'beginning to wonder' about her grasp on reality.

He asked why she would give blood but not breath, saying that 'most people would run a mile from a needle'. 

Defence Barrister Stephen Chapman said that Bowers didn't have an 'extensive record' but that she did have a history of mental health issues.

Judge McElhom granted bail but said that there was 'something seriously wrong in this woman's life that needs sorting out'.

She will appear again on February 1.