Probation reports have been ordered for a woman and man from Derry who admitted involvement in a city centre ‘attack’.
David Dillon, 21, whose address was given as Otter Park in the Strathfoyle area of the city, admitted charges of disorderly behaviour and possessing Class C drugs on April 13 of last year.
His co-defendant, Caitlin Maguire, 18, of Drummard Close, pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly behaviour and common assault for the same incident.
A Public Prosecution Service (PPS) representative said on that date CCTV operators reported a ‘disturbance’ outside a fast-food takeaway on the Strand Road involving a number of people who then ran away.
She said the injured party in the case had a ‘bloody mouth’ and alleged that both defendants had assaulted her. A male who sustained no injuries claimed he had been assaulted by Dillon and the 21-year-old was identified and arrested, the Public Prosecutor added.
The defendant wasn’t charged with assault, but when arrested for disorderly behaviour police found four Xanax tablets and two Lyrica tablets on his person. Dillon told officers he arrived on the scene after his girlfriend phoned him claiming she had been ‘attacked by the alleged injured party’, the PPS representative explained.
During police interview Maguire said she had been taunted by the female injured party then had a ‘black out’ and ‘doesn’t remember anything’. CCTV footage identified Maguire as she ‘marched across the Strand Road to attack the injured party’ and she can be ‘clearly seen striking her multiple times’, the Public Prosecutor added.
The court was told that Maguire was held back and removed but returned to assault her again, then Dillon arrives and they leave after a further scuffle, before Maguire returns for a third time and continues her assault on the injured party and a male – who declined to provide a statement.
Defence solicitor Maeliosa Barr said Maguire was in town when she was subjected to ‘derogatory comments’ from other youths which ultimately led to the assault. He said the 18-year-old has been seeking help for mental health issues and ‘her and the injured party have now made up’. The injured party has since moved in to her street and there is ‘no animosity’ between them, he added.
The defence solicitor told the court that Dillon was her boyfriend at the time and he received a call that she was being or about to be attacked so he arrived to help her. Mr Barr said the 21-year-old hasn’t been charged with assault and had bought the tablets found in his possession for £10.
Since the incident Dillon has moved back home and has attended HURT which has allowed him to ‘stay clear of all drugs’.
Short pre-sentence probation reports were ordered for both defendants and the case was taken to a court sitting on May 11 for sentencing.
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