Magherafelt man jailed for calling Polish officer a ‘foreign f**k’

Edward Watson (48), unemployed, Smith Street, Moneymore, admitted two counts of assaulting police officers and disorderly behaviour.

Watson was released after bail was fixed for appeal against the prison sentence.

A prosecuting lawyer said on February 15 at 1.15am police were tasked to Leckagh Drive in Magherafelt to deal with a report of a man shouting and banging at a door.

She explained that they found Watson sitting on a step with a plastic carrying bag. He was drunk and on getting to his feet began shouting obscenities.

The lawyer said Watson was unsteady on his feet and swinging the plastic bag and continued shouting abuse at the two officers for 15 minutes.

While swinging the bag at one of the officers, he fell on to the grass and could not get up, the prosecutor continued.

She said Watson asked police for lift home as he had no funds for a taxi and while walking to the police vehicle he punched one of the officers on the chest, saying “You c**t you.”

A defence lawyer said Watson was embarassed by the incident and wished to apologise to the court and the police officers.

She stressed that defendant was not a man who was racist or held strong political views and described himself as a “middle of the road man.”

The lawyer said the incident had been caused by the over consumption of alcohol and pointed out that Watson had been abstaining from drink.

She added that she believed he would be helped if the court was mindful to impose a period of probation as it would assist him in getting his life back together.

District Judge Nigel Broderick while he accepted Watson clearly regretted the incident, he had to take into consideration that he had 141 previous convictions which included assault on the police and disorderly behaviour.