Co Tyrone man grabbed and tried to kiss female police officer in Cookstown, court hears
A Co Tyrone man who grabbed a woman police officer and attempted to kiss her during an incident of drunken disorderly behaviour in Cookstown, has been handed a nine-month Probation Order.
District Judge Francis Rafferty said the pre-sentence report addressed the issues he asked for and it appeared that this was an aberration, “something of a one-off”, for the defendant.
He told John Hugh McCullough, aged 36, of Davagh Road, Omagh, that it was clear he cannot drink anymore given his “unusal background” or he will find himself back in court again.
The judge remarked that the defendant had suffered a brain injury some time ago and has had ongoing issues.
McCullough previously admitted using disorderly behaviour, assaulting a police officer and attempting to sexually assault a female officer at James Street, Cookstown, in the early hours of the morning of February 21.
An earlier court heard police were called to the area after a male had been removed from a bar but was kicking the door in an effort to get back in.
The prosecutor said McCullough began to show aggression towards the police, removed his coat and “squared up”.
He was warned to calm down and leave, but instead he grabbed a female officer by both upper arms and “forcefully leaned in to try to kiss her and she was unable to push him away”. He also grabbed and hit out at another officer before being arrested.
A defence solicitor said the defendant had no recollection of the incident as at the time he had been on a "concoction of medicine and alcohol”.
He added that he wanted to put this behind him.