A woman who assaulted another female over a man has been ordered to pay a fine of £350.
A district judge told the 42-year-old: “This offence is aggravated by the fact that any self-respecting female would never engage in an altercation over a mere man. They are not worth it.”
Aissa Ferreira, of Quarry Gardens, Portadown pleaded guilty to common assault at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Court heard that on December 17, 2016, at 7.30pm, police received a complaint from the injured party that she had been assaulted by the defendant.
She stated Ferreira approached her and they had an altercation over a man.
The defendant punched the injured party in the left eye causing her to fall to the ground.
Ferreira then punched and kicked the victim as she lay on the floor.
Police noted that the injured party had swelling to both her lip and her eye.
CCTV of the altercation was recovered but this was from some distance away.
On February 5, 2017, the defendant was interviewed and accepted that she had a falling out with the injured party over a man.
She claimed the victim had slapped her first and she reacted by punching her before kicking her on the ground.
Ferreira told police: “I just lost it.”
Defence solicitor Joseph McDonald stated: “The reason a plea was not entered earlier was that the police interview was only served on Friday.
“This woman has spent the last four years living in Northern Ireland and has a nine-year-old son.”
District Judge Bernie Kelly commented: “I don’t know what is worse. The fact this woman is 42 or the fact this was over a man.”
Mr McDonald explained that the male was a friend of the defendant and she had introduced him to the injured party.
However, the male had expressed feelings for the defendant which were not reciprocated which caused problems between the two women.
He stated: “Ms Ferreira had gone to speak to the injured party to sort things out but she was not having any of it.”
Mr McDonald added: “There has been nothing since and she sees this lady on a daily basis.”
District Judge Kelly stated: “I will give you credit for your lack of record and the passage of time since this offence.
“Kicking is a very nasty thing to do, this offence is aggravated by the fact that any self-respecting female would never engage in an altercation over a mere man.
“They are not worth it.”
Ferreira was ordered to pay a fine of £350, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 15 weeks.
