A 22-year-old woman who attacked another woman in a local bar has avoided any serious convictions at Fermanagh Magistrates Court.

Nikita Francis with an address of Willoughby Place, Enniskillen was found guilty of two counts of common assault in relation to an incident on October 1, 2017.

The court heard that on the night in question, police responded to an incident at Pat’s Bar, Enniskillen where the defendant had struck the victim. During interview Francis said she could not remember any of it.

Representing Francis, Ciaran Roddy, told the court, by way of clarification, that Francis pleaded guilty to one count of common assault and was convicted of the second count. Mr. Roddy continued saying his client had no previous convictions and the pre-sentence report was helpful in setting out Francis’ attitude and the very sensitive background behind the incident.

The 22 year old was home from work in England for a separate court matter and was aware of the press focus and the attention on her family. With this in mind she went to consume alcohol to forget about it. Unfortunately it had the opposite effect. It was in the town that Francis saw the alleged victim of the case involving her family and and had misconstrued things that had been said to her and about her family and she reacted in a way she regrets.

Mr. Roddy said the regret shown by his client was evident at the interview where you could see how horrified she was.

He said it is a matter she is deeply ashamed of and one she deeply regrets. Mr. Roddy pointed out that the attack was not premeditated and that the victim herself had been forthright in saying there was not a cross word between them.

The court heard one of the main worries for the defendant with the charges was the future of her employment in England who had sent a supervisor over to the court to observe proceedings and that there would likely be disciplinary action taken by her employer as well.

The pre-sentence report stated that Francis had a low risk of reoffending.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan decided to take a lenient approach and hoped the supervisor that was present in court would take note of this in the hope that Francis would maintain her employment.

Judge Ranaghan said the pre-sentence report was very helpful and the actions of the defendant were out of character and not premeditated.

He gave Francis a conditional discharge of one year and orderer her to pay £250 compensation to the victim and £200 in fines.