A 29-year-old woman is to be sentenced later this month in relation to seven assaults on police officers following a disturbance in Newtownhamilton earlier this year.
Robyn Georgina Larkin, of Merchant’s Close, appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court – sitting in Newry – on Tuesday charged with of disorderly behaviour, seven counts of assault on police, resisting police and two counts of attempted criminal damage.
The court heard the charges arose from an incident on May 31 when police responded to reports of an ongoing disturbance on Dundalk Street, Newtownhamilton, shortly before 8pm.
On arrival, officers found two females and a male – all highly intoxicated – arguing with a group of locals. When police attempted to de-escalate the situation, Larkin grabbed an officer’s arm and tried to bite her. She went on to bite another officer on the hand and continued to struggle aggressively while shouting and swearing in the town square.
Larkin was restrained and placed in a police vehicle, where she continued shouting and kicking, before lashing out again and striking an officer on the lower leg. Further assaults were reported, including spitting at two officers. A spit and bite guard had to be applied.
Defence barrister Bobbie Rea described his client as a “success story” in recent months, noting that while her initial court appearance in June raised concerns around bail, she had since adhered to conditions and successfully completed a programme at Sister Consilio’s.
District Judge Anne Marshall acknowledged the progress, telling Larkin: “You seem to have been doing very well so keep it up. Make sure you attend with probation. They might need to see you once or twice and then come back to court to be sentenced on October 20.”
