Men are accused of riotious behaviour at Lammas Fair

SEVERAL men from across north Antrim have appeared in court charged with offences connected to trouble which erupted in the early hours of he first day of this year's Lammas Fair in Ballycastle.

Charges include riotous behaviour and disorderly behaviour.

A prosecution lawyer said a number of the cases were linked but some defence lawyers said other incidents were not connected.

Alex Kevin Kinney (22), a forestry worker of Drones Road Armoy; Martin Lavery (24), a self-employed scrap metal worker of Coolkeeran Road, Armoy; Paul Donnelly (21), of Carrowcoey Road, Armoy; Patrick James McGowan (25), of Bridge Road, Dunloy and Kevin Brogan (20), of Anticur Road, Dunloy were all charged with riotous behaviour on August 30 this year in areas in and around the Diamond in Ballycastle.

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Paul Donnelly is further charged with having an offensive weapon - a glass bottle - at Ann Street on August 30 and with resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty.

August 30 was Paul Donnelly's 21st birthday.

Patrick McGowan is further charged with possessing an offensive weapon - a beer bottle - at The Diamond.

Daniel Christopher Smiley (26), of Dunclug Park, Ballymena, is charged with using disorderly behaviour at Ann Street on August 30 and resisting a constable.

Sean Paul Mullan (26), of Gortamaddy Drive, Ballycastle, is charged with assaulting two police officers and being disorderly at Castle Street in the town on August 30.

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A police officer said she believed she could connect all the defendants to the charges.

A prosecution lawyer said offences occurred during the Lammas Fair and involved a number of offenders.

She said the Public Prosecution Service has asked to see CCTV footage and the department is also waiting on statements including from injured police officers.

A number of the cases were adjourned to November 12 and others to October 15.

Each of the accused were released on their own bail of 500.

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A defence lawyer for Daniel Smiley said his client's alleged offences were not attached to the others.

His case was adjourned to October 15.

A defence lawyer for Brogan said "certain admissions" were made during a police interview.

The prosecution lawyer said a number of the defendants do not have any offending history but she reiterated she wants to see CCTV.

The prosecutor said Sean Paul Mullan's case was connected to the others but a defence lawyer claimed that although it happened on the same date "that is as far as it goes" and he said it is a "seperate matter entirely" and he said a 'not guilty' plea has been indicated.

That case was adjourned to October 15.

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Also at North Antrim Magistrates Court on Friday, John Duncan Smylie (18), of Drumawillin Park, Ballycastle, pleaded guilty to being disorderly at The Diamond on August 30.

And he admitted a charge of criminal damage relating to breaking a window at the tennis pavillion at Mary Street, Ballycastle, on July 11 this year.

The court was told that on August 30 police spoke to the defendant about shouting at officers and he then called them 'f--king scumbags' and other obscenities.

A defence lawyer said the offence happened during the Lammas Fair and Smylie had been drinking the all day.

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He claimed the police were investigating reports of people handing drink to individuals who were under-age and when they spoke to Smylie he said he had nothing to do with it and he took "umbrage" at the way the police were accusing him.

Regarding the tennis pavilion incident, for which Smylie was ordered to pay 60 compensation, the defence lawyer sid Smylie was pleading guilty to the offence but he said it was an accident.

He said Smylie was "play-wrestling" and "mucking around" with his friend when he aimed a kick at his mate but his foot went through the window completely accidentally.

The lawyer said Smylie stayed at the scene until police arrived.

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The lawyer said his client is training to become a plasterer.

District Judge Richard Wilson fined Smylie a total of 300 and ordered him to pay 60 compensation.

He told the defendant: "If you had kept your mouth shut at the Lammas Fair you may not have been on a charge at all but no doubt you couldn't keep it shut because you had too much drink. The drink was in and the wit was out".

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