Derry Court: Pregnant woman among four remanded as CCTV footage of 'vicious assaults' shown in court

Derry Magistrate's Court today was shown two sets of CCTV footage showing 'vicious assaults' on two men in the city with one of the accused being a woman who is 4 and a half months pregnant.

The four accused are Tamsin Palmer (20) of Jefferson Court in Derry who is charged with assaulting a man occasioning him actual bodily harm on May 8 and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent on the same man on the same date.

She is also charged with assaulting a police officer, being disorderly in John Street in Derry and attempted GBH on a man with intent on May 9.

Sean McElhinney (26) of Damien House, Tanya Murray (34) of Lawrence Hill and Natasha Young (36) whose address was given to the court were all charged with disorderly behaviour in John Street and attempting to cause GBH to a man on May 9.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. 

As regards Palmer CCTV footage was shown of the incident of a man walking towards a group including Palmer. 

A male in the group can be seen choking the alleged victim until he went to the ground and then a police officer said that Palmer could be seen repeatedly stamping and kicking him on the head.

The second piece of footage showed a man walking his dog in John Street at around 9.30pm when he is attacked by someone identified as McElhinney. 

As the fight continues the three female accused get involved with Palmer being seen kicking the alleged victim several times to the head. 

A police officer said that the females became involved when McElhinney seems to be losing the fight. 

Murray was also said to have kicked the man but told police she was trying to separate the fight. 

As regards Young she was said to have been 'the most aggressive' of the females with the officer saying she stamped on the alleged injured party several times as well as kicks at him.

A police officer said that Palmer had 19 previous convictions and 19 suspended sentences. 

He said it was 'very clear' she was a danger to anyone she meets and there was a real risk of re-offending.

He said on both occasions Palmer had alcohol taken. 

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client had a history with the first alleged victim and told police she 'took her chance to get her shots in'. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said that the only way to protect the unborn child was to remand Palmer in custody as she 'clearly had no thought' for the child.

She was remanded in custody to appear again on June 8.

As regards McElhinney the officer said that he had 50 previous convictions and police had no confidence he would abide by bail. Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that he could be released to an address approved by the PSNI. 

Judge McElholm said this was a man out walking his dog at 9.30pm and this sort of behaviour simply would not be tolerated. 

He remanded McElhinney in custody to appear again on June 8.

The officer said the accused Murray had 37 previous convictions and had shown 'no remorse' over her alleged role in the incident.

 The judge said that kicking someone in the head at the very least risked brain damage and added that this sort of behaviour 'had to be weeded out'.

Murray was remanded in custody also to June 8.

The police officer said that Young claimed she had been out for a walk when she saw her friend Murray. 

She claimed when the fight started she had tried to separate the two men fighting using her feet. 

Judge McElholm said it was the first time he had heard of someone trying to separate fights with her feet. 

He remanded Young in custody to appear again on June 8.