A Strabane woman who repeatedly harassed her neighbour received a suspended sentence when she appeared before the local magistrate on Thursday last.

The court heard that on May 15 this year at 4.50am, police received a report from the injured party, Paul McCauley, that the defendant, Ethel Nicholl of Alexander Place, Strabane, was shouting and screaming from her nearby home. At 7.05pm the same day, police again received a similar report from Mr McCauley. On attending Alexander Place, they witnessed Nicholl standing outside her front door shouting at the injured party. Mr McCauley then made a statement of harassment against the defendant. Nicholl was subsequently arrested and it was ascertained that she was very highly intoxicated. She was conveyed to Strabane Custody Suite where she later admitted having very little recollection of the incidents.

Defending, solicitor Mr Stephen Mooney described his client as a woman with deep physcological issues who was receiving help for a long term alcohol problem.

RM Liam McNally handed Nicholl a four month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He also fined her £300, however bail was fixed for an appeal against the conviction.