Suspended sentence for woman charged with burglary, assault and making false police report

A woman has appeared in Derry Magistrates Court charged with burglary, assault and making a false police report.

Bridget Mongan, 33, of Foyle Road in Derry was charged with, on May 12 this year, stealing a number of items, including clothing and makeup, from Poundland. 

When a member of staff confronted her, Mongan punched and bit him.

Police recognised Mongan after reviewing CCTV and later arrested her.

When interviewed, she claimed to have been drunk and said she had no memory of even being in the shop.

Mongan was also charged with, on October 16, calling 999 saying that she'd been assaulted. Upon further investigation, police arrested her for wasting police time.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley told the court that Mongan had been released on bail on August 22 on conditions including not consuming drugs or alcohol.

He said that she's managed to stick to these conditions, calling that 'extremely significant' and saying that she's made 'real efforts' to turn herself around.

District Judge Barney McElhom sentenced her to eighteen months probation for the false police report charge and deferred sentence on the theft charges until May 3 next year to see if she has turned her life around.