Moneymore man who was ‘beating pub door in’ then shouted sectarian abuse at PSNI officers in Cookstown

Before the court was 35-year-old Jonathan Robert Sampson from Smith Street in Moneymore, who was bound over to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months on a charge of disorderly behaviour.

Describing it as “appalling behaviour”, Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes also ordered the father-of-three to pay £150 in compensation to each of the four police officers he directed abuse towards.

"If you don't pay it I will put you in jail," Mr Holmes warned the defendant.

Prosecuting counsel said police were on mobile patrol in Cookstown on September 1 at approximately 12.30am, when they received a report from staff at the bar asking for assistance as a man was beating the door in.

He said police observed the defendant along with an unknown male and Sampson became verbally abusive towards police calling them "Fenian b*****s” and “c****”.

Counsel said he continued to shout sectarian abuse at officers while being conveyed to custody and banged his head repeatedly against the window of the police vehicle.

A defence lawyer said Sampson is ashamed of his behaviour.

He said he was a full-time carer for his young children, two of whom have autism and require intensive support.

The lawyer explained it had been his first night out in some time at a friend’s birthday and he had too much to drink.

He added that the defendant has a “mixture of friends.”