A young woman shouted “If you can’t beat them, eat them” after she bit a detective in a Garda station.

Megan McQuaide (18) was arrested after she was involved in a traffic accident in Barnesmore, Co Donegal, on June 24th.

Ms McQuaide, of Meadowbank Avenue, Strand Road, Derry, was found by gardaí standing in the middle of the road and was shouting and striking out at the emergency services.

She was a passenger in a car but was unhurt. She was taken by ambulance to hospital but had to be accompanied by gardaí because of her behaviour.

She was physically aggressive to hospital staff and was arrested for public order offences and taken to Letterkenny Garda station.

As she was being released into the care of her grandmother when leaving Letterkenny Garda station, she sank her teeth into the chest of a female Garda.

As she did so she shouted, “If you can beat them, eat them.”

Broke the skin

Letterkenny District Court heard how the accused broke through two layers of clothing and broke the skin of the Garda, causing her severe bruising.

Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client, who pleaded guilty to public order and assault charges, had a severe history of drug abuse, both prescribed and unprescribed.

Mr Gallagher said Ms McQuaide was living with her grandmother, who had been searching for her at the time of the incident for a number of days.

“She was in a drug-confused hell but she is in a very different place today and is trying her best,” Mr Gallagher told the court.

Judge Paul Kelly ordered a probation report on Ms McQuaide and adjourned the case until January 15th.