Angela Wildman, a 58-year-old Belfast resident, appeared in court facing charges stemming from an incident on August 14th. Wildman is accused of assaulting individuals who attempted to free a baby seagull she had captured.
According to court records, Wildman allegedly used a milk carton and a long-handled mop to attack those who tried to retrieve the seagull from her sports bag. Wildman has denied the charges of common assault, possessing an offensive weapon in public, disorderly behavior, and resisting a police officer, as reported by the BBC.
Wildman’s defense attorney, Damien Trainor, stated in court that his client denies any mental health diagnoses. Trainor described Wildman as a solitary individual who enjoys feeding birds and caring for wildlife. He indicated that she keeps to herself, tending to her birds, cleaning her home, shopping, and maintaining a routine.
Court testimonies from officers present during the incident on August 14th revealed that individuals attempting to liberate the seagull from Wildman’s possession were allegedly assaulted with a long-handled mop and a large carton of milk.
One passerby reportedly sustained injuries after being struck with both the mop and the milk carton.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers encountered Wildman exhibiting aggressive and uncooperative behavior when they attempted to place her in handcuffs.
The arresting officer argued against granting Wildman bail, stating, “I don’t know that this obsession is with wanting to capture wildlife.”
The officer went on to explain that public attention was drawn to Wildman due to her successful capture of a baby seagull and subsequent efforts to care for it.
Despite the officer’s concerns, Wildman was granted bail, considering she had already spent six weeks in custody prior to her court appearance on Tuesday.
Damien Trainor, Wildman’s defense lawyer, has not yet responded to Digital’s request for comment.