Nwicker60
26-Oct-11, 14:07
Alcohol was a nerve calmer not to celebrate her birthday
A WICK woman spent the night of her birthday in jail after appearing drunk at the town's sheriff court.
However, Irene MacPhee's inebriated state wasn't down to over celebration of her 54th year. She was worried about her approaching court case and indulged to excess to calm her nerves.
MacPhee was said to have remembered little about her behaviour in court,yesterday, during which she spoke out in a loud voice to anyone in the public benches who would listen, swearing at times.
MacPhee, who had come to court to answer a charge of assault, was taken out by a policeman and given a second warning about her behaviour.
She persisted, however, and when the court convened, Sheriff Andrew Berry ordered her to the cells below, for a medical examination to confirm her drunken condition.
MacPhee, of Kinnaird Street, Wick, was detained overnight and apologised unreservedly for her behaviour, through her solicitor, Neil Wilson when she reappeared sober yesterday.
Mr Wilson explained that the accused had awakened on Tuesday feeling nervous about her forthcoming court appearance and concerned that she might be send to prison on the assault charge.
Mr Wilson sent on: “She took drink to calm her nerves...and unfortunately, drank too much.”
Addressing MacPhee, Sheriff Berry said it had been “patently obvious” that she had been heavily under the influence of drink and said it was “simply unacceptable” to turn up in court, in that condition.
The sheriff outlined the extent of the inconvenience MacPhee had caused to the court, its officials and the doctor called to examine her and made the point, it also meant the accused’s case could not be dealt with.
Sheriff Berry said he would have been “perfectly entitled” to sentence McPhee for contempt of court but was going to take the view that her conduct would never occur again. He also took into account she had spent a night in custody.
McPhee pleaded not guilty to assaulting Cheryl Fleming of Huddart Street, Wick by punching her in Kennedy Terrace, Wick on July 23. Trial was fixed for November 9.
A WICK woman spent the night of her birthday in jail after appearing drunk at the town's sheriff court.
However, Irene MacPhee's inebriated state wasn't down to over celebration of her 54th year. She was worried about her approaching court case and indulged to excess to calm her nerves.
MacPhee was said to have remembered little about her behaviour in court,yesterday, during which she spoke out in a loud voice to anyone in the public benches who would listen, swearing at times.
MacPhee, who had come to court to answer a charge of assault, was taken out by a policeman and given a second warning about her behaviour.
She persisted, however, and when the court convened, Sheriff Andrew Berry ordered her to the cells below, for a medical examination to confirm her drunken condition.
MacPhee, of Kinnaird Street, Wick, was detained overnight and apologised unreservedly for her behaviour, through her solicitor, Neil Wilson when she reappeared sober yesterday.
Mr Wilson explained that the accused had awakened on Tuesday feeling nervous about her forthcoming court appearance and concerned that she might be send to prison on the assault charge.
Mr Wilson sent on: “She took drink to calm her nerves...and unfortunately, drank too much.”
Addressing MacPhee, Sheriff Berry said it had been “patently obvious” that she had been heavily under the influence of drink and said it was “simply unacceptable” to turn up in court, in that condition.
The sheriff outlined the extent of the inconvenience MacPhee had caused to the court, its officials and the doctor called to examine her and made the point, it also meant the accused’s case could not be dealt with.
Sheriff Berry said he would have been “perfectly entitled” to sentence McPhee for contempt of court but was going to take the view that her conduct would never occur again. He also took into account she had spent a night in custody.
McPhee pleaded not guilty to assaulting Cheryl Fleming of Huddart Street, Wick by punching her in Kennedy Terrace, Wick on July 23. Trial was fixed for November 9.