A Keady woman accused of assaulting another woman while carrying a large bread knife in her leggings has been told she must complete 80 hours of community service.
Appearing in person at Armagh Magistrates’ Court – sitting in Newry – 35-year-old Mary Geraldine Shortt, of Fairgreen Park, was also handed a two-year probation following a series of drink-fuelled incidents last year.
A prosecution solicitor told the court that on September 8, last year, at approximately 10.15pm police were tasked to a report of a disturbance in Keady.
On arrival police located the defendant on the pathway outside Granemore Park where she was shouting at the occupants of a house. Police removed her from the area and placed her in a police car before speaking to the owners of the property.
They alleged that just before 10pm, Shortt had come to their home and started violently banging the door with what they believed was a metal object.
The injured party alleged the defendant had assaulted her by pushing her to the ground in an attempt to get at another family member.
Police conducted a search of Shortt and found a brown-handled bread knife, with a blade approximately 25cm long, located down her leggings in the area of her right thigh.
Whilst the search was being conducted the defendant continued to shout loudly and aggressively in the car towards the injured party and at police. She was arrested and taken to custody.
In a separate incident, on November 4, police were called to Fairgreen Park, Keady in relation to a suspected breach of bail.
Shortt answered the door and invited police in, but whilst in the kitchen, police became aware that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol.
When quizzed, Shortt became aggressive towards police and started hurling abuse. Police attempted to reason with her and calm her down and allowed her to change her clothes but she became more aggressive and picked up a plate.
Police put hands on her to restrain her from hitting out. She was then escorted out to the car where she continually hurled insults at police. Police placed her in handcuffs before she kicked a police constable on the leg. She kicked another officer on the hand inside the vehicle. She was further arrested for assault on police.
In passing sentence, District Judge Laura Marshall, said: “I recall watching the video footage involving your family members. It was very clear to me that alcohol was a significant issue and that’s set out in this report.”
For the first series of offences which included common assault, attempted criminal damage, possessing of a blade in a public place, disorderly behaviour and intimidation of a witness, Shortt was handed the two-year probation order.
She was given community service for the second incident which included assault on police and resisting police.
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