A 23-YEAR-OLD woman who received a suspended jail term for intimating her half-sister has launched an appeal.

Tanya Wilma Galbraith, of Fairview Gardens, Dromore, denied breaching a restraining order, threatening to damage property at The Commons, Irvinestown belonging to the injured party and intimidating a witness on May 3, 2017.

She contested the charges at a hearing before Fermanagh Magistrates Court, but was found guilty by district judge, Nigel Broderick.

Her case was adjourned to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

At her sentencing, the court heard that, on the day in question, the defendant had learnt about an allegation made by the injured party, who is her half-sister.

She then went to her half-sister’s house in Irvinestown and warned her to “drop the charges” against another member of her family.

She then told her half-sister: “Your house is going to burn for this.”

Galbraith then left the property, but shouted “lying b*****d” at the injured party as she drove past a short timer later.

The injured party subsequently reported the matter to the police.

Defending solicitor, Gary Black, told the court that the sentencing options were limited as his client continued to deny the offences.

Mr. Black revealed that there was a previous entry on the defendant’s record relating to a “chance encounter” with the same injured party in the Jobs and Benefits Office in Omagh.

He said that this had happened around two years ago now.

The solicitor said that Galbraith was “taking every effort” to avoid the injured party in the case and had blocked her on Facebook and other forms of social media.

After hearing this, district judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that the defendant had gone to the injured party’s house in this incident, although she denied it.

Mr. Black replied that the restraining order remained in place against his client, and was due to expire until January 2018.

In sentencing the defendant, Mr. Broderick said that she may have continued her denial, but there had been sufficient evidence to convict her.

Describing it as a “serious matter”, the judge told Galbraith that she could readily expect a custodial sentence.

Taking into account the defendant’s limited, but relevant record, all involving matters against the same complainant, Mr. Broderick said he was satisfied that the custodial threshold had been crossed in the case.

The judge sentenced Galbraith to a five-month jail term, which he then suspended for 12 months.

He also imposed further time on the defendant’s restraining order, which will now run until September 27, 2018.

The defendant was then granted her own bail of £500 to launch an appeal.