Fight at Scarva Sham fight

Matthew Oliver, Sleepy Valley Avenue, Richhill, was fined £200 last Thursday at Banbridge Magistrates Court for disorderly behaviour on July 14 this year.

He was also fined £200 for assaulting a police officer and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy. The court heard that a number of police officers were tasked to the Sham Fight at Scarva after sporadic disorder and a number of people were arrested.

There were in excess of 100 people in a beer tent about 4pm and trouble broke out between rival factions.

Oliver was arrested but he struggled violently with officers and had to be restrained.

He also had to be restrained on the floor of the police car when he was being taken to the custody suite.

A barrister said that Oliver’s behaviour was ‘fairly disgraceful’. He added that it was a day of revelry and celebration and the defendant was not used to large amounts of alcohol.

The lawyer said Oliver had been drinking the night before and had started early the next day so was extremely intoxicated.

Deputy District Judge Laura Ivers said what happened must have been ‘appalling to behold’ and told Oliver he now had significant charges on his record.