Cookstown man jailed after attacking two officers during police chase in Moneymore

A Cookstown man released from jail on license has been imprisoned after attacking two police officers during a violent bid to escape arrest.
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Darryl McCann, 30, from Molesworth Street, appeared at Dungannon Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The court heard how on April 17, police stopped McCann at a Spar shop in Moneymore, and asked him for his driving licence.

Instead, the defendant fled from his vehicle, jumping over a garden fence and onto a flat roof, where he made his way into a narrow back-alley.

When police tried to apprehend him, McCann resisted arrest, lashing out at the officers in the confined space of the alley way, and shouting ‘just let me go’.

A violent tussle ensued with police using CS spray before they could control the defendant, who then gave a series of false identities.

It was only after McCann was fingerprinted at the police station that officers were able to ascertain his true identity.

In a subsequent search of his car, police found 25 ecstasy tablets, a container of white crystals, a bag containing white residue, as well as a number of diazepam tablets.

Police also found two diazepam tablets in his jacket pockets, which he claimed had been prescribed to him. Police also found a wallet containing a credit card with someone else’s name.

The court heard how McCann admitted to taking steroids and training several times a week. One of the injured officers was off work for a week because of the assault.

According to his defence solicitor, McCann’s placement at a Cookstown hostel had broken down. He had fled the police because he did not want to go back and face a lengthy prison sentence.

McCann, who has a lengthy criminal record, had been released from jail on license in April.

Judge John Meehan accused McCann of ‘varied and appalling violent behaviour’ and increased his jail sentence by four months,

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