Magherafelt man was 'very foolish' to have damaged security tag, local court told
A Magherafelt man who damaged a security tag valued at £205 belonging to G4S, was jailed for three months at the local Magistrates Court on Tuesday on a criminal damage charge.
Thirty-five-year-old Mark Francis Kennedy, from Sandymount in the town, who appeared in court by video link from Maghaberry Prison, was also given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, for possessing a Class B drug.
Prosecuting counsel told the court that on June 18 this year, police received notification of a potential breach of High Court bail by defendant.
The lawyer said on locating Kennedy it was observed that he was not wearing his G4S tag and he was arrested.
Continuing, counsel said on November 2 last year, police attended the defendant's address in relation to another matter not before the court, and while there located a bag containing a white powder which they initially believed to be a Class A drug, however testing revealed it was the Class B drug N-Cyclohexyl methylone.
A defence lawyer stressed that Kennedy has been in custody for three months in relation to the damaged tag. He said the defendant accepted he damaged the tag and had been "very foolish."
The lawyer pointed out that the drug was not found on the defendant and there had been others in the house, but he had decided not to contest the charge.
Sentencing Kennedy, District Judge Oonagh Mullan also ordered him to pay a £25 offender’s levy and made a destruction order in respect of the drug.
She noted he had served the equivalent time while on remand and would be released.