A 28-year-old man who threw a bottle at a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Land Rover on the Garvaghy Road out of frustration because he could not reach an off-licence has been sentenced to six months in prison.
Malachy McCann, with an address at Churchill Park in Portadown, Co Armagh, appeared by video link from prison to enter a guilty plea.
Police track McCann to his home after incident
The prosecution outlined that at approximately 4.30pm on that Sunday, police footage captured McCann emerging to the front of a crowd. He was seen wheeling his arms about and shouting at officers before throwing a bottle at the police Land Rover. Other people in the crowd pulled him back from the immediate confrontation.
McCann left the scene on foot, but the PSNI helicopter tracked his movements back to his home, where officers arrested him. During the court hearing, the prosecuting lawyer attempted to open background information regarding determinations by the Parades Commission and the Court of Appeal. Judge Ranaghan interrupted, stating that just about everyone knows the background to the country and suggested focusing strictly on McCann’s actions.
Judge sentences McCann to six months in prison
Defence counsel Joel Lindsay told the court that McCann stated he did not care about the march and had no interest in it. According to the defence, McCann explained that the main problem was that police lines were stopping him from getting to the off-licence to buy more alcohol. Mr Lindsay added that McCann had consumed a mixture of drugs with his drink and was remorseful for his actions.
Judge Ranaghan imposed a three-month sentence for the Garvaghy Road incident and activated a previously suspended three-month jail term, ordering them to be served consecutively. Highlighting that McCann has seven previous convictions for assaulting police, the judge told the defendant that the court is not overly concerned about political matters but is very concerned about his attitude to police, and simply should not tolerate it.
Where the Garvaghy Road incident took place
Where did the Garvaghy Road incident take place?
The incident occurred on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Co Armagh, during an afternoon gathering on 27 September.
What charges did Malachy McCann plead guilty to?
McCann entered guilty pleas to using disorderly behaviour and trying to cause criminal damage to a PSNI Land Rover.
How much prison time did the judge hand down?
District Judge Michael Ranaghan sentenced McCann to a total of six months in prison by combining a new three-month term with an activated three-month suspended sentence.
Related reading