https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/fermanagh-mum-apologises-for-smashing-up-neighbours-car-in-row-over-cat-poo/a1575595044.html
Dog lover (50) given community service for baseball bat rampage
————————————————————————————
John Toner
Today at 08:09
A mum-of-two who took a baseball bat to a neighbour’s car over cat droppings has expressed remorse for her actions.
Diana Rudden (50), of Cavandale in Enniskillen, learned some lessons in paw and order after being convicted of criminal damage, common assault and disorderly behaviour at Enniskillen Magistrates Court last week.
When asked about the incident, which took place in June, animal lover Rudden told Sunday Life there was more to the tale.
She said: “I know it sounds pathetic and people wonder how it could escalate like this. I wish it never happened and I shouldn’t have done what I did.
“I woke up to one of the cats on top of my curtain pole in my bedroom one morning and I just saw red.
“I’d already had to give up gardening, and one of my dogs three days before last Christmas, because of those cats.
“This was after months of them destroying my garden and stressing out my dogs. When I went to discuss it with the owners I had a red mist moment.
“A restraining order has been taken out against me and I am working with probation, which I welcome as the whole neighbourhood has turned on me, which is difficult.”
Earlier court hearings were told how the victim called 999, saying that Rudden had smashed up her car with a baseball bat, damaging the windows and the wing mirrors.
They told police of issues with Rudden, who also owns several small birds, and said she had earlier been complaining about cats entering her garden.
She was arrested and was being taken into custody, but police diverted to the South West Acute Hospital due to concerns over Rudden’s health.
Outside the hospital, she became abusive towards officers and was further arrested for disorderly behaviour.
“We (she and her neighbours) have been getting on fine for years until recently when they got a litter of kittens and all hell broke loose,” Rudden said.
“They started destroying my garden and defecating everywhere. My Frenchie kept getting sick from eating it, no matter how hard I tried to pick up after them.
“I took up gardening during lockdown but had to give it up because of all this.
“The cats drove my poor dogs mad and I was just fighting a losing battle.
“I ended up having to put bubble wrap on the inside of the windows to stop the dogs from hurting themselves.
“There was an altercation with the people in question and things started to get worse from then on.
“I have enough going on without this. I just want peace.”
by columboscoat