A woman who made dozens of calls claiming she was suicidal but was found to be highly intoxicated has been given a suspended sentence.

In 69 incidents throughout 2021, the woman rang the PSNI, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and doctors, but when these calls were acted upon, she refused to engage with officers, who at times had to stay at her home to ensure her safety.

The incidents range from June 2 to September 22, when she is charged with wasting police time/false reporting of personal safety x 2 and persistent improper use of communications.

On July 15, Alison Nagel (44), of Rockfield Park, Belleek, was arrested by police after a report she was suicidal and possibly had a knife. 

The NIAS and the PSNI attended, and it was discovered she was not suicidal and there was no knife.

However, when they were leaving Nagel said she was going to kill herself but refused to engage with the police.

On another date, Nagel reported being suicidal, but again would not let those who attended assist her.

When interviewed last October, Nagel said she could remember some of the calls, but not others, and that when she rang she was usually intoxicated.

In an unrelated incident on November 20, 2021, police received a report of a car planning to enter the water in Belleek.

When officers got to Belleek they observed a car, which Nagel had access to, reverse out and drive away from them.

It did not stop when signalled until it reached the marina, where Nagel got out and attempted to make off.

She was stopped and a smell of intoxicating liquor was detected, and Nagel’s eyes were glazed.

Nagel failed a preliminary breath test and was taken into custody, where she told police she had been drinking heavily for the previous two and a half days, and had stopped drinking at 6.30am on the morning of the incident.

Her solicitor, Gary Black, told Enniskillen Magistrates Court that Nagel had first entered the criminal justice system at 40 years of age due to certain life events which had “brought her down this road”.

He said her record was in a condensed period, and it had been just short of two years that nothing had happened but a “further trigger” occurred which brought about this re-occurrence.

Mr. Black said two specific calls on July 15 and 17 were made directly to police about her concerns for safety, while others had been made by various others who had concerns for Nagel’s safety.

He added that had received calls from police who were in attendance with Nagel and had administered first aid to lacerations.

Nagel’s current health issues were discussed, as well as plans by her parents to relocate to Fermanagh permanently to help her.

Concerning the November incident in which she was charged with driving with excess alcohol in her breath, using a motor vehicle without insurance, and having no driving licence, Mr. Black said it was Nagel who called the police, and if she had not made the call she may not have come before the court.

In total, Nagel was handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, disqualified from driving for three years, and fined £100.

District Judge Steven Keown warned her that if she continued offending, she would leave the court with no option but to send her to jail.

He added he was putting a lot of hope and trust in Nagel’s parents to be able to help her.