Kilrea man took Parachute Regiment flag from a property and called a person a 'dirty Orange b**tard' in Ahoghill
A court was told a man posted footage on TikTok of himself driving around Ahoghill waving a Parachute Regiment flag he had taken from a person's home and at one stage he called somebody a "dirty Orange b**tard".
The man admitted a charge of 'doing a provocative act' by engaging in 'sectarian behaviour' with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and he has also pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour in the area of Brookfield Gardens in Ahoghill.
Martin Ward (51), of Drumkill Gardens in Kilrea, committed offences on June 2 last year. He also used a hand-held mobile phone whist driving in Ahoghill and he pleaded guilty to improper use of public communications by sending matter that was 'grossly offensive'.
He was due to be sentenced on Thursday (February 12) but the case has been adjourned to Thursday, February 19.
A prosecutor previously told Ballymena Magistrates Court that the defendant was driving around "shouting sectarian obscenities" whilst waving a Parachute Regiment flag out the window.
The court was told that the TikTok video showed the defendant asking a man: "Is this your flag?" before Ward called him a "dirty Orange b*stard".
A defence barrister told the earlier court that the defendant had taken the flag from a person's home.
The barrister said that the defendant did not have "any animus" against the Parachute Regiment. "It is a bit unusual, I think it is tied in with his mental health," he added.
He said that Ward's mental health had deteriorated since the death of his daughter in 2024 in Belfast. A man originally from Africa but living in the Republic of Ireland was charged with her murder.
The lawyer said that Martin Ward was engaging with Community Addictions regarding alcohol abuse.
District Judge Nigel Broderick told the earlier court that the defendant aggravated the matter by videoing it and posting it on TikTok. The defendant had 108 previous convictions.
The judge had told him: "The court has every sympathy for your personal circumstances. The untimely death of your daughter no doubt has been a significant cause of emotional upset for you but this is not the way to go about dealing with your grief."
He had deferred sentencing until February to see if the defendant could stay out of trouble. Ward was told that he also had continue to engage with the Community Addictions team.
"If you can address your alcohol issue then that might persuade the court not to send you to prison," added the judge.
The defendant was not present at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday (February 12). A defence barrister said that the defendant has "medical difficulties".
The court was told that the defendant had not re-offended. District Judge Broderick said that a pre-sentence report was "relatively positive".
The judge said that if the defendant did not engage with the court there would be an arrest warrant. He said that the defendant had to attend court on February 19 or an arrest warrant would be issued.