Rowdy nurse walks free

A Renfrewshire Council nurse who bawled insults amid claims she attacked a cop has gone unpunished – so it does not harm her career.

Linda McGoldrick, 45, launched a foul- mouthed rant after losing control during a town centre row.

But she walked free after insisting a conviction would see her lose her health care job

McGoldrick, of Shortroods Road, in Paisley, admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner when she was hauled into Paisley Sheriff Court.

Defence lawyer Martha Rafferty pleaded for leniency.

She said: “She is a senior nursing officer with Renfrewshire Council and a conviction, or an admonition, would affect her employment.”

The court h e a rd McGoldrick had shouted expletives and gestured aggressively in the town’s High Street.

She was so out of control she was lifted and taken to a police station.

The health worker was arrested over claims she resisted arrest and attacked PC Jack Wallace during the spat in January last year.

But she struck a deal with prosecutors that saw two charges against her dropped in exchange for her pleading guilty to one.

Claims McGoldr i c k struggled violently with officers and assaulted one were axed.

The carer appeared in the dock on crutches because she had broken her ankle after falling on a cobbled street.

Sheriff James Spy had deferred sentence on her for six months and ordered her to be of good behaviour.

He maintained that a conviction would have a “disproportionate effect” on her life – despite pleading guilty.

McGoldrick was granted an absolute discharge and will not have the offence on her record.