Derry woman given 'last opportunity' after breaching bail

A woman charged with assaulting her mother has appeared at Derry Magistrates' Court today charged with breaching her bail for the sixth time.

Kelly Anne O'Kane (37) of Holly Lane in Derry is awaiting trial in Derry Crown Court on charges of assaulting her mother in 2024.

The court was told that the delay in the case being dealt with was due to the ongoing barrister's strike.

A police officer told the court that on April 13 staff at a medical institution reported that O'Kane had taken alcohol in breach of her bail.

A breath test revealed a reading of 85mgs with the legal driving limit being 35mgs.

The officer opposed bail stating that this was the defendant's sixth breach with previous breaches being in March, February, September last year, June and May 2025.

He said if released police fear she will take alcohol again and he added she had 62 previous convictions. 

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client was awaiting her case being dealt with in the Crown Court.

He said that all the breaches involved alcohol and there had been no new offending nor any attempt to contact her mother. 

District Judge Oonagh Mullan said she would re-release O'Kane but warned her this was her 'last opportunity and if she comes back again she won't be getting bail.'

O'Kane will appear again on April 17.