A woman who became hostile toward police when they were responding to a call from the public has been disqualified from driving.

Gemma Marie Reid of Windmill Heights, Enniskillen was found guilty of failing to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary breath test, resisting police, disorderly behaviour, assault on police and failing to provide a specimen when in charge of a car in relation to an incident at Windmill Heights on November 12, 2018.

Police received a call at 5.30am from a member of the public who reported a car was blocking his driveway. When police arrived they observed the car and a female who was asleep in the driver’s seat. They also saw that the keys were in the ignition but the engine was not running.

When the female woke they noticed her speech was slurred and she immediately became hostile towards the officers. The officers asked for a preliminary breath test which the 35 year old failed to provide.

Reid was becoming increasingly hostile towards the officer which resulted in her being restrained. She resisted, kicking out, screaming and shouting at the officers. She was told to calm down and was arrested and brought to Omagh custody suite. Reid again failed to provide specimens of breath when required to at the station.

Reid’s solicitor, Michael Fahy told the court that his client had a preceding record and had been placed into care at a young age and had trouble with alcohol from an early age. He said his client had been residing in temporary accommodation and was not allowed to smoke inside the house so she had went out to her car to smoke.

Mr. Fahy continued that his client’s behaviour was unsavoury and that Reid had difficulty with alcohol but had not drank in a number of months.

He asked the court to exercise some discretion as Reid required her licence to drive to visit her children who were currently in care.

Mr. Fahy said his client was extremely annoyed and apologetic and deeply regretted the incident.

In what was an unusual case for District Judge Michael Ranaghan, he said he would not be using his discretion in this case as it would send out the wrong message. He gave Reid credit for her early plea and all Mr. Fahy had said.

Reid was disqualified for driving for four months and fined £125 for failing to provide a specimen when in charge, disqualified for one month and fined £100 for failing to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary breath test. For the remaining charges, Reid was given a conditional discharge which was to run for two years.