A woman who "glorified" in the murder of a prison officer and verbally abused police and paramedics has been handed a community service order.
Dungannon Magistrates Court heard police received a call from NI Ambulance Service on March 17, requesting assistance with an intoxicated female who was extremely aggressive.
Michaela Espie (26) of Maloon Court, Cookstown had been found by paramedics collapsed on the street. She launched a tirade of abuse against paramedics and police when they arrived.
She "expressed her delight" at the recent murder of Adrian Ismay, and shouted "up the `Ra".
Police had to take action to prevent her falling due to her intoxication and prevent her running onto the road.
She again made reference to the recent murder, and told a police officer he would be six feet under which would be "one more for the colour party".
A PPS lawyer told the judge: "We are treating this as a hate crime."
But District Judge John Meehan said: "Under current legalisation a hate crime has to be motivated by hate, not aggravated. I am not going to have the fact of the very low level of prosecutions for hate crimes stacked-up by having all such episodes of Ulster abuse classified as hate crime."
A defence solicitor said his client has little recollection of the incident and was shocked by the comments she made.
Handing down a 200 hour community service order Judge Meehan concluded: "You affront the community with this drunken behaviour."
