Pulled woman's hair and scratched face

Carrie Jordan (23), whose address was given to the court as Princes Street, Lurgan, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on March 18 last year.

She was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years.

The court heard that at 1.50am a fight was in progress in William Street, Lurgan, and when police arrived they saw a large group of girls outside a takeaway.

The injured party approached police and claimed she had been assaulted by the defendant.

She said she was trying to break up a fight when Jordan grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the ground where she lost consciousness.

There were scratches and bruises to her face.

When interviewed by police Jordan denied grabbing the injured party saying she was in no state to do so because of her level of intoxication.

Her case had been listed as contest but on the day of the hearing she pleaded guilty after photographs of the victim’s injuries were produced.

Sentencing was then adjourned so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

Mr Conor Downey, representing the defendant, said she was ‘embarrassed and disappointed’ by her actions.

He explained that a friend of the defendant had been assaulted by persons who associate with the injured party who took no part in the assault.

Mr Downey added that Jordan had co-operated with probation in the preparation of the pre-sentence and there were favourable recommendations.

He suggested the court could consider a community service order or leave something hanging over her.

Deputy District Judge Neil Rafferty said that what concerned him on seeing the photographs was that the defendant had gone for the eyes of the victim.

Addressing Jordan the judge said that there was a large part of him which wanted to send her immediately to prison for three to four months.

“What you did was disgraceful and quite vicious,” he went on.

“To go at someone’s eyes with your nails, you might have blinded her. You were so drunk you were out of control.”

Judge Rafferty said Jordan had pleaded guilty at the last possible moment but what was in her favour was her lack of record for violence.

He said he would consider the matter and asked for the defendant to be taken into custody.

Later in the day he imposed the suspended sentence.