Derry woman who attacked a grandmother and young grandson jailed for 'scandalous' incident

A woman has been jailed at Derry Magistrates' Court for what a judge described as a 'scandalous' incident where she 'randomly attacked innocent members of the public' including a grandmother and her young grandson.

Courtney Temple (20) of Jefferson Court in Derry admitted two incidents that occurred in February last year.

The court was shown CCTV of an incident on February 10 2024 where a woman walking down Waterloo Street accompanied by her young grandson. 

Temple ran towards the pair and grabbed the boys shirt ripping it before knocking the woman to the ground. 

The defendant was said to have tried to hit the woman before members of the public intervened. 

Temple then assaulted another woman who was nearby before running off up William Street. 

The court was also told about an incident on February 20, 2024 when police attended the former Bank of Ireland building in Strand Road to reports of two females fighting. 

They spoke to the females including Temple who was said to have been intoxicated. 

The incident was captured on CCTV and Temple could be seen pulling the other woman by the hair and hitting her 'multiple blows'.

When interviewed Temple was asked was it her on the CCTV she replied 'I think it is'.

She apologised for her actions and said she could not remember the incident on February 10.

Defence counsel Sinead Rogan said Temple had pleaded guilty at an early stage and saved any witnesses having to come to court.

She said the defendant had shown remorse for her actions and accepted it was her on the CCTV. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said he would give credit for her early plea but added that Temple was in breach of a suspended sentence. 

Temple was sentenced to six months in prison.