A 51-year-old woman who became aggressive towards police while they tried to assist her has been found guilty of disorderly behaviour and assaulting a police officer.

Catherine Bermingham with an address of Lisgoole Park, Drumgallon, Enniskillen was found guilty of the two charges in relation to an incident on December 12, 2018.

The court heard that on the day in question, police were called to a report of an intoxicated female on the Coa Road, Enniskillen.

When officers arrived they observed the defendant who began to stagger towards the police vehicle, slapping the windows on the car before lying down.

The officers tried to help Bermingham however she became aggressive towards them whilst several members of the public looked on.

The 51 year old proceeded to empty the contents of her handbag out onto the ground. The officers again tried to help her by putting the contents that had been emptied out back into the handbag.

Officers noticed that the defendant’s pupils were dilated and detected a smell of intoxicating liquor on her breath.

Bermingham then went and sat on a small wall where she continued to shout and swear at the officers before falling backwards into the garden.

When the defendant got back to her feet she continued shouting at the officers and started staggering towards the local shop.

Fearing for her safety, the officers went to assist the five year old and managed to get her into the police car. Bermingham calmed down when in the car and allowed the officers to bring her home.

However, the defendant did become aggressive again and tried to take her seatbelt off and open the door of the car.

She told the officers to stop the car and hit one of them on the chest before she was arrested for disorderly behaviour and assault on police and brought to Omagh Police Station.

Defending solicitor, Bernard Corrigan, told the court the first thing his client wanted to do was apologise for her behaviour and she now realised that the police were there to help her.

Referring to the pre-sentence report, Mr. Corrigan noted that the recommendations in it in regards to sentencing were fair.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he had listened to all that had been said and read the pre-sentence report which was very helpful.

Judge Ranaghan told Bermingham that there were underlying issues that needed to be dealt with and could not be dealt with alone.

He handed the defendant an 18 month probation order for each charge to run concurrently and also ordered her to pay a fine of £125 for the assault on the police officer.