A two-year-old child was found hidden away in a cupboard as a number of intoxicated adults partied at a house in Armagh, a court heard today.
Marina Makarova, 27, of Drumbreda Walk, Armagh and Evita Bergmane, 33, of Killyman Street, Moy were sentenced at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday following an incident in the city earlier this summer.
On Wednesday, June 7, police were called to what was described in court as a “noisy” house party around 11.30am in Edenaveys Crescent following a complaint from a neighbour.
Police were told that there was a two-year-old child inside the house.
The prosecution said that when police arrived at the property they found a number of intoxicated adults inside but there was no sign of any children.
Makarova spoke to the officers in attendance, denying that there was a child in the house.
However, police carried out a subsequent search of the house and it was then they discovered another adult hiding in an upstairs cupboard with a two-year-old child also inside.
The child was then removed by police.
Makarova then proceeded to follow the officers outside, telling them to “f*** off” in a tirade of abuse.
She was given a number of warnings before she was apprehended by police. She lashed out and and assaulted one arresting officer.
Co-defendant, Bergmane, who has an extensive criminal record and is currently serving a suspended sentence, then got involved with police, calling one of them a “f****** a*******” and a “f****** b******”.
She too was warned about her aggressive behaviour before she shoved an officer in the chest twice and kicked another in the shoulder.
A defence solicitor for Makarova described it as “quite a sad case” as his client had been drinking following the news that same day of her aunt’s death.
He added that there was “very little explanation other than she had too much to drink” following the news of her aunt’s death.
He said her actions were “inexcusable” but that she had entered a guilty plea at the very first opportunity and that “she fully accepts the consequences”.
Defence counsel for Bergmane also said that there was “no excuse” and that “she should know better given the record she has already amassed”.
He added that the mother-of-two “realises she has a problem”.
The court then heard that how she has been working in Armagh for seven years but has recently become unemployed and is someone “crying out for help”.
In a statement read out in court, Bergmane apologised for her actions and pleaded for one more chance.
District Judge Alan White explained to her that this was her last chance and “next time it will be prison”.
For the charges of disorderly behaviour and two counts of assault on police Bergmane was handed an enhanced combination order, which aims to divert offenders from short-term custodial sentences, with a more intensive focus on rehabilitation. She was also ordered to carry out 100 hours community service.
Markarova, for the charges of disorderly behaviour, resisting police, obstructing police and assault on police, was handed 40 hours community service to be organised around her part-time employment.
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