A 21-year-old woman with a mild learning difficulty is being locked up in a prison cell for 23 hours a day after she attacked staff at her care home.
Julie-Anne Fenton, of Knockmore House, Stratore, Derrygonnelly, has a history of “challenging and violent behaviour” and is under two-to-one supervision.
She appeared at Fermanagh Court by video link from Hydebank Women’s Prison and admitted damaging a toilet and assaulting three staff at Knockmore House.
Fenton was jailed for eight months.
She has already served the equivalent of a six month sentence on remand waiting for her case to be dealt with.
A prosecutor told the court that at approximately 3.15pm on Friday, September 12, police arrived at Knockmore House to find Fenton being restrained by two members of staff. The officers were told that she had kicked out at a member of staff and sought to used a downstairs toilet. She then smashed the toilet seat and cistern and cut her hand. A member of staff managed to coax her out of the toilet but she lashed out at him and spat at staff. She was restrained with her arms behind her back. She said she wanted to “bust the police” and “punch the judge in the face”.
Defence solicitor Michael Fahy told the court: “This is a very difficult case. She is a very difficult individual to manage.” He explained that Fenton has a “mild” learning difficulty “but a history of challenging and violent behaviour”. She is under two-to-one supervision at Hydebank and is locked in her cell for 23 hours a day. She has been referred for behavioural therapy.
Mr. Fahy said that if she was in a position to be released there was a package of care in place for her.
A social worker told the court that if Fenton was to be given a place in a suitable facility the other residents would have to be sent home.
Mr. Fahy said the judge was facing a “conundrum” in how to deal with her.
District Judge Nigel Broderick agreed that it was a difficult sentencing exercise, due to Fenton’s personal difficulties. She has a mild learning difficulty but exhibits “severe, challenging, violent behaviour” and has a low IQ.
He said that whatever facility she was placed in, it would pose difficulties for either Social Services or the prison authorities.
The District Judge said it was not without significance that Fenton has 31 previous convictions including 14 for assaulting police, nine for common assault and seven for causing criminal damage.
He said he was satisfied a custodial sentence was appropriate and jailed Fenton for eight months.
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