Argument with bar staff and police leads to court date

After arguing with door staff outside a Portadown bar a 30-year-old man got involved with police who arrived to deal with the situation.
Craigavon Courthouse. INPT21-239.Craigavon Courthouse. INPT21-239.
Craigavon Courthouse. INPT21-239.

David O’Hara, whose address was given to the court as Woodlands, Gilford, appeared last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

He was fined £300 and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy for disorderly behaviour on October 12 this year.

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He was given conditional discharges for resisting a police officer and assaulting an officer on the same date.

The court heard that at 12.55am police went to Thomas Street where the defendant was arguing with door staff outside a bar.

Police went to assist staff but the defendant, who was under the influence of alcohol, refused to give his name.

O’Hara tried to head-butt an officer and had to be taken to the ground and handcuffed.

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He continued to swear and acted as a dead weight as he was being put in the police car.

The defendant continued to struggle in the car and refused again to give his details. He twice tried a head-butt and hit an officer in the chest area.

A barrister representing O’Hara said he had a long standing history of alcohol misuse.

She explained that he mainly drank at home but on this occasion was pressed to go out with friends. He apologised when he sobered up.

The lawyer said this had been a wake up call for him. His GP had referred him to the addictions unit and he completed a detox programme.