A 28-year-old woman has pleaded guilty at Fermanagh Magistrates Court this week to one count of assault.

When passing judgement District Judge Michael Ranaghan said that “the system had failed” the defendant.

The prosecution told the court that on December 27, 2017 Jessica McCurry, with an address of Chanterhill Road Enniskillen, assaulted a member of staff at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital. The court heard that the defendant had grabbed the female member of staff by the hair, ripping some hairs out in the process.

Defence solicitor Michelle McVeigh said that her client had “complex needs” and had “no recollection of the events” but that she accepted that the incident had occurred.

Ms McVeigh went on to say that the defendant had since left the hospital and that her “life had somewhat stabilised”. She revealed that McCurry was now living in sheltered accommodation and that there had been no reoffending in the interim period of time. She went on to say that the defendant had given up alcohol and cigarettes and had embarked on an education programme.

Mr. Ranaghan told the defendant that he was aware “of the very serious things that had happened” in her past. He went on to say that “the system has let you down”. The Judge said he was deferring sentencing for four months. “If everything continues as it has been in your life I would be minded to impose a conditional discharge.” The case will return before the court on November 20 2019.