Judge hits out at 'ridiculous' drinks promos

District Judge Barney McElholm made the comments during the sentencing of 26-year-old Susan Ross.

Ross, of Good Shepherd Glen, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour, common assault and assaulting and obstructing police on July 7 last.

Londonderry Magistrate's Court heard that Ross had consumed four jugs of cocktails before assaulting a barman in the Strand Road area of the city.

Suspending a three month jail term for two years, Mr McElholm said: "It is unfortunate certain bars in this town deem it appropriate to offer these drinks promotions from 3pm. It is quite ridiculous. They are encouraging people to drink at that time."

The court heard that police were called to the Strand Road to investigate reports of a barman being "scraped and kicked". They also saw Ross throwing a glass bottle at a window of a local bar.

When police attempted to arrest the 26-year-old, she spat in the face of one officer and lashed out an another.

The court heard Ross was arrested and interviewed at a later stage. She claimed she had no memory of the incident, apart from being in the police station.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley told the court that Ross had been prescribed anti-psychotic drugs and that, on the day in question, she had consumed "four jugs of cocktails made of WKD, vodka and port."

He said: "I can't imagine how that would have interacted with her medication."

Suspending the three month jail term for two years, District Judge Barney McElholm said the 26-year-old's difficulty was in "taking her medication and staying away from alcohol."

He warned Ross to avoid taking her medication with alcohol and told her to follow the instructions of her doctor, adding: "If you come back in here again in the next 12 months, you might go to prison."