Young Coalisland man given community service for ‘unsavoury incident’
A young Co Tyrone man who assaulted three police officers in what was described as an extremely unsavoury incident outside a public house in the village of Moy, has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service.
Imposing the sentence, Deputy District Judge Peter Prenter said it was disgraceful behaviour and the violence was carried out against police officers “who were only trying to calm you down”.
Twenty-year-old Tiarnan Woods, of Canal Meadows, Coalisland, was sentenced for assaulting the officers and disorderly behaviour in the early hours of May 3 this year.
The court heard that the defendant intervened while police were dealing with a member of the public outside the public house in the vicinity of The Square, Moy, at approximately 12.45am.
Prosecuting counsel said Woods pushed an officer shouting various slogans as he did so.
She said he spat at another constable and dragged him to ground and struck a sergeant, calling them “dirty Protestant b*****ds”.
Defence counsel said it was “an extremely unsavoury incident”.
He explained that he had watched the incident twice on police bodycam with Woods, who was clearly ashamed of his actions.
The lawyer said the defendant was “beyond intoxication” on this occasion and his behaviour was “out of character for this young man".
He pointed out that Woods is in full time employment and has never before been in trouble.
Deputy District Judge Prenter said he had considered the pre-sentence report and he would treat the defendant’s behaviour as “a one-off”.