R v Pauline Burns
| Jurisdiction | Northern Ireland |
| Neutral Citation | [2020] NICC 15 |
| Date | 30 July 2020 |
| Court | Crown Court (Northern Ireland) |
1
Neutral Citation No: [2020] NICC 15
Judgment: approved by the Court for handing down
(subject to editorial corrections)*
Ref:
2020NICC15
ICOS 20/039826
Delivered: 30/07/2020
IN THE CROWN COURT IN NORTHERN IRELAND
SITTING AT BELFAST
_____________
R
-v-
PAULINE BURNS
_____________
His Honour Judge McFarland
Recorder of Belfast
[1] Burns was born on the 29th August 1963 and is 56 years of age. She has
pleaded guilty to one count of common assault committed on the 4th April 2020.
[2] At 6 pm on that evening, a lady was getting into her car to drive to her
father’s home to deliver food to her father who was self-isolating due to the
Covid-19 restrictions. Burns, who is known in that locality of Belfast, approached
her. She was in an intoxicated state and asked the lady for a hug, which was
refused, and then Burns starting shouting at the lady using profane language and
spitting into her face. The lady was a cleaner at a local Hospital, and therefore a key
worker in the current pandemic. As well as her caring responsibilities for her father,
she has three young children. She was very concerned about her condition given the
uncertainty about the disease spread by Covid-19 virus. Fortunately, she did not
become infected.
[3] Burns was arrested on the 5th April 2020 at her hostel address. She admitted
knowing the lady and being drunk, but could not remember asking for a hug,
although she said that she would do that, and did not remember spitting in her face.
[4] Burns was produced before the District Judge on the 6th April 2020 and was
released on bail but because she came to police attention a short time later she has
been remanded back into custody and has remained there since. She was committed
for trial on the 8th July 2020, and was arraigned this morning and pleaded guilty.
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