Committed series of alcohol-fuelled crimes

A MAN who assaulted two police officers while shouting "Fenian b*****d" was told he has his mother to thank for the lenient punishment he received at Banbridge Magistrate's Court last week.

Nineteen-year-old Adam Johnston, from Burn Brae Mews in the town, appeared before the court on a series of charges, including hitting the officers who tried to restrain him after he smashed the window of a van belonging to the Iveagh Leisure Ltd.

The court heard how Johnston was identified by police at 10.50pm on April 23 this year in the driver seat of a Citroen van in a secure car park at Temperance Hall on Ballymoney Hill.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The defendant was then seen running to the rear of the premises and the police officers found that the passenger window of the van had been smashed and empty bottles of alcohol were lying on the floor of the vehicle.

Johnston stopped running after being asked repeatedly to do so by the officers. He then struck a Constable to the side of his left knee and wrestled with both police officers. The Constable then used his baton to strike Johnston’s upper leg.

At this point the defendant called the Constable a “Fenian b*****d” and shouted it again as he continued to struggle with both the Constable and Sergeant.

After being taken to a police cell van the officers put leg restraints on the defendant who continued to struggle and kick out at the Sergeant.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Constable was treated for a swollen and stiff knee, while the other officer was not injured.

The court also heard that Johnston, who has spent almost four weeks in a Young Offender’s Centre, had trespassed in ArmaghDown Creameries seven months earlier, and had stolen a jacket as well as causing damage to a radiator and a two-foot window.

When asked by police why he was on the land at 12.40am on August 9 last year, Jonhston, who had been sitting in the passenger seat of a Seat van and showing signs of intoxication at the time, told the officers he worked there - this was refuted by staff at the Creamery.

Johnston’s DNA matched that found on three lorries and he pleaded guilty to the offences at the time of his arrest and expressed remorse, saying he had no recollection of the incidents because of the amount of alcohol he had consumed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

One month after this incident Johnston broke into McSherry’s off-licence by smashing the front window of the shop and taking “as many cans of alcohol as he could carry”.

District Judge Mr Paul Copeland said there was nothing particularly devious or cunning about Johnston’s crimes, and his defence solicitor Mr Michael Gillen said alcohol had played a “consistent and dominant” part in each of them.

Ordering the 19-year-old to serve an 18-month probation order, and pay 120 for damage to the van, Mr Copeland said the support of Johnston’s mother had given him a chance to turn his life around.

“You can thank Mr Gillen and to some extent your mother who has been quite supportive of you,” he said, assuring Johnston he would face nine months in a Young Offender’s Centre should he breach his order.