By Ursula Duddy
Reporter
A 38-year-old woman who made almost 200 false emergency calls has been remanded in custody until a bail package addressing her mental health needs is prepared.
Philomena Curran of Glenabbey Crescent appeared before Derry Magistrates Court charged with wasting police time by making false emergency calls to police and Gardaí.
The offences are said to have taken place on March 2 and between March 16 and March 18.
The police officer in court said that he could connect Curran to the offences and said that police objected to bail on the grounds of fear of further offences.
The court heard that on March 2, Curran made contact with An Garda Síochána online via a tablet device, saying she was going to kill herself.
An Garda Síochána have an obligation to report and pass on such calls to the PSNI if the call is made from within their jurisdiction.
Police had received a similar call from Curran on February 26. When they had called to her home, she had told police she was not feeling suicidal and was ‘laughing and joking with police’. She was warned on that occasion about her behaviour and the seriousness of false calls to emergency lines was impressed upon her.
However, on March 2, police attended Curran’s home again. They found her ‘lying on the sofa’ with ‘no intentions of killing herself’ and in ‘no need of medical assistance’.
When asked why she had called, she said she didn’t know and again began laughing and joking with police. She was asked if she wanted to go to hospital but refused.
She was arrested for wasting police time as she told police she would not go to Strand Road Police Station if she were granted bail.
She was warned not to ring the emergency services again unless she genuinely required their help.
However, on March 16, she contacted police through Fold Telecare saying she was going to kill herself. She had already been warned two days earlier about making calls of this nature after police called to her home and she told them she was not suicidal.
Curran was arrested under the Mental Health Act and was brought to Gransha Hospital for her own well-being; however, she was deemed ‘no risk’ and released.
On March 17 and 18, there were a number of further calls but Curran was found to have ‘no issues’ and was ‘safe and well’. She was eventually arrested again.
The officer in court said that police systems were checked and there appeared to be 182 calls to 999 or 101 and that this total did not include third party calls or through other devices.
Vulnerable adult
The officer said that Curran had received a suspended sentence for similar behaviour and ‘doesn’t seem to grasp the seriousness and doesn’t seem to understand that wasting police time could lead to something very serious’.
He added that it was only a matter of hours after release by police before she was offending again and that she ‘went around’ the bail condition that forbid her from phoning police by contacting another police force through the Gardaí.
The officer said: “It’s not just a cost issue; it’s about what we should be attending while we are dealing with this.”
Michael McGee, defence solicitor, said that Curran has ‘a learning disability, a low IQ and is a vulnerable adult’ and he agreed with the officer that she ‘can’t grasp’ the magnitude of her actions.
He said that Curran is living alone but does have the support of her sister.
Mr McGee said that Curran had gone from July 22, 2017, to January 19, 2018 while on bail previously without offending. He suggested that her access to mobile phones and electronic devices be limited if she were to be granted bail.
However, the police officer in court said that removing these devices from a vulnerable person was not the answer and that she was ‘savvy enough to change her pattern of behaviour’.
Remanded
District Judge Barney McElholm said Curran had been given chances by the police and that they had tried to explain to her they could be needed at genuine emergencies while she was making false calls.
He added: “How do you bring it home to somebody?
“And, of course, we have the usual story of her being brought to Gransha and they immediately say there’s nothing wrong with her and kick her out.
“It’s been two months since she got a suspended sentence, you would have thought something would’ve been put in place.”
Judge McElholm said that he would have to remand Curran in custody because the risk of further offending was ‘too high’.
He added: “If someone came back to me with a properly thought out and resourced bail package in black and white, I would reconsider bail.
“They had two months to put that together and all we have gotten is further offences.”
Judge McElholm said Social Services would have to get involved and also asked why Curran did not have a dedicated mental health social worker.
He added: “The provision for mental health services in this country are appalling. I do agree this lady needs help.”
Curran will appear back before the court again on April 12.
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