A judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of a woman who made a false rape claim.

Regina McNern (47) was due to appear at Downpatrick Crown Court to be sentenced for perverting the course of justice but defence barrister Michael Tierney said he had been unable to contact his client.

After court security staff confirmed there was “no appearance” from the defendant, Judge Piers Grant issued what he described as an “inevitable” bench warrant for her arrest.

At an earlier hearing McNern, from Ballyferris Walk in Bangor, pleaded guilty to a single count of perverting the course of public justice on 16 January last year in that she "made a false allegation of rape against a named male individual leading police to conduct an investigation".

Belfast Telegraph