A DRUNKEN grandma who claimed an officer beat her up has lost a two-and-a-quarter year compensation battle with Lancashire's police chief.

Mrs Monica Mulcahy's claim for damages was thrown out by a judge, who dismissed her claims that a policeman had punched her in the nose and hit her with his baton.

Mrs Mulcahy, of Tong Lane, Bacup, whose civil trial, funded by the tax payer, is believed to have cost about £20,000, left the hearing at Burnley County Court without making comment. But for PC Andrew Riley, who had already been cleared by his bosses and who feels Mrs Mulcahy's claims were malicious, it was the end of a long ordeal for him and his family.

PC Riley, stationed at Bacup in October 1995, when Mrs Mulcahy alleged he attacked her, and now at Accrington, welcomed the dismissal of her case with 'relief.'

The officer, who had said the plaintiff had got hold of his collar and tried to throw him around, had been on patrol for less than a year when he arrested Mrs Mulcahy. A police spokesman added: "When it was decided the complaint was without foundation, no further action was necessary."

Mrs Mulcahy, in her 50s, had begun civil proceedings in January, 1997, after she claimed she was dragged out of The Crown Inn, Bacup, pushed on to the floor of a police Range Rover, insulted, punched and hit. She alleged she had had just one bacardi and coke, had not used abuse nor caused trouble in the pub. She alleged PC Riley called her sons Nicholas and Thomas monsters and claimed he said she only bred 'smackheads and thieves,' and deserved a good beating.

PC Riley, who told the hearing he did not draw his baton or cause Mrs Mulcahy injuries, said she refused to leave the pub, lay on her back on the police Land Rover, kicking, hit and headbutted the screen and growled like a wild animal.

Giving judgment at the end of the week-long hearing, Judge Edward Slinger said he was satisfied Mrs Mulcahy had been substantially affected by drink.

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