Court hears Greenisland man in a Fold used 'wanton violence' against police officers
A judge said a man who was in a Fold building had used "wanton violence" against police officers.
District Judge Nigel Broderick was speaking at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, on Tuesday (June 9).
Gary Paul Lowry (43), with an address a Glassillan Grove in Greenisland, was at court for sentencing on charges of assaulting two police officers and resisting one of them in the execution of his duty.
A prosecutor said police attended a Fold in Whitehead on January 9 and the defendant was obstructive towards them.
He was "verbally aggressive" to police, refusing to reply with requests to engage. He was "hitting furniture in a hostile manner," said the prosecutor.
Police requested that he leave but he became irate. He resisted police, "punching out" at officers and PAVA spray was "deployed" by police.
The defendant "pulled" a policewoman "over his back and she then hit her head off the wall". Lowry kicked out at the other officer to the legs and tried to punch his face.
When interviewed the defendant denied "any wrongdoing" and "complained that police had been coming to the door too many times".
The defendant had contested the case but was convicted. A defence barrister said the defendant had alcohol and drug issues but "in sobriety" he was reflective.
He said although the defendant had a record, Lowry was remorseful for the "out of character" incident. The court heard the defendant had told Probation he "felt disgusted" at himself.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said it had been "disgraceful behaviour" and there had been "wanton violence on police officers".
The defendant was put on Probation for a year.