Woman jailed at Derry Court for assault on police

A woman has been jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today for assaulting police and being disorderly after a taxi driver had to flag police down when she would not leave his vehicle.

Colleen Maguire (36) of Lawrence Hill in Derry admitted three assaults on police and a disorderly behaviour charge that occurred on August 26.

The court heard that police were flagged down by a taxi driver who wanted Maguire removed from his vehicle and she was refusing to do so.

Police persuaded Maguire to get out but she immediately went to the ground.

She then became abusive and hit one officer and kicked another one.

Defence counsel Michael Donaghey said Maguire 'totally accepts her behaviour was disgraceful.'

He said the defendant had been at a party and an incident had occurred causing her to leave 'in a distressed state.'

He said the taxi driver was concerned and so stopped outside the police station.

District Judge Barney said that Maguire had been given a suspended sentence in April and this had occurred in August.

He said she had been 'well warned' but some four months later had done the same thing.

The judge said that Maguire's own family had 'disowned her for the time being' due to her not addressing her alcohol issues.

He said the defendant was 'not urn-intelligent' and had been educated to a high level.

The judge concluded: "She knows what she has to do but doesn't appear willing to do it."

Maguire was sentenced to three months in prison.