A High Court ruling to award £3,000 in damages to a woman hit by a police baton during an incident in Omagh, County Tyrone, sends "the wrong message to would-be law breakers," according to the Police Federation for Northern Ireland.

Nicola McAleer was involved in a disturbance that occurred as a group of people gathered to watch a man being arrested in the Tyrone market town in September 2012. Ms McAleer claimed an officer had struck her on the upper thigh during the disturbance. The policewoman involved said a large group of onlookers had surrounded officers and begun shouting abuse, before the incident occurred.

But the judge ruled that, while her "alcohol-fuelled behaviour" was unacceptable, officers had used excessive force.

PFNI Chairman Terry Spence said: "This ruling follows a County Court decision to dismiss the personal injury claim even though the High Court heard that the plaintiff’s drink-fuelled behaviour was unacceptable.

"This ruling will make it even tougher for police officers to deal with hostile groups. Officers acted in a graduated, proportionate manner and showed remarkable restraint, and this staff association is clearly disappointed with this decision. These officers are to be commended for their courage and commitment in what was obviously a very threatening situation.

"The fact that the Judge said he didn’t think he could cut the size of the £3,000 award by up to half says there's a flaw with the system, but that's little consolation to our members who are out on the streets restoring order in what is all too often chaotic crowd confrontations."

(IT/MH)