A DRUNKEN grandmother who claimed a police officer attacked her was charged with assaulting him, a court heard.

Monica Mulcahy later admitted refusing to leave unlicensed premises and threatening words or behaviour, but had originally been charged with police assault.

Burnley Crown Court has heard claims that Mrs Mulcahy's family had given police "considerable problems" over the years and that complaining about officers was a "feature" of the Mulcahys.

Mrs Mulcahy, in her fifties, of Tong Lane, Bacup, is suing Pauline Clare, the Chief Constable of Lancashire, for damages. She claims she was dragged out of a pub in October 1995 and was punched in the nose and hit with a baton by PC Andrew Riley, now stationed at Accrington.

Giving evidence in the civil trial, Mrs Mulcahy's solicitor, Philip Whittaker, said he had represented her children and "specifically one of them."

Cross-examined by Robert Atherton, for the Chief Constable, who described Mrs Mulcahy as a "valued client" of Mr Whittaker, he said it was not his impression that police had to be particularly careful in relation to the Mulcahys or they would get complaints from them. Asked if the police had had considerable problems with the family over the years, Mr Whittaker said Mrs Mulcahy's son Nicholas had given police extensive problems.

Mr Atherton: "Complaining about the police has been a feature of the Mulcahy family hasn't it?" Mr Whittaker: "I can't say that's my recollection."

Police custody sergeant Alan Durkin said Mrs Mulcahy was drunk at the police station. Both Mrs Mulcahy and her husband had been arrested and the plaintiff was agitated, uncooperative and was constantly abusing officers. She was complaining of a swollen nose from being arrested, asked to see a doctor and later claimed she had been assaulted.

Cross-examined by Nick Kennedy, for Mrs Mulcahy, the officer agreed Mrs Mulcahy said she had only had two drinks and asked for a breathalyser check. He said officers didn't do that.

Catherine Cook, landlady of Bacup's Crown Inn, from where Mrs Mulcahy says she was dragged, said Mrs Mulcahy, her husband and friend had had too much to drink. The landlord said if they didn't leave the police would be called and Mrs Mulcahy was swearing and said she would be glad to have police remove them.

Mrs Mulcahy then hit out at PC Riley, who told her she was under arrest and took hold of her arm. She then sat down in the doorway and started kicking the door.

(Proceeding)

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