Ordered to pay £400 in compensation

Twenty-one-year-old Kevin Francis Downey, whose address was given to the court as Princes Close, Lurgan, admitted assaulting a constable and also resisting arrest on October 12 of this year.

For each offence he was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years.

The court was told that police officers attended at an address in Lurgan where the injured party named the defendant as having been involved in two incidents.

Police had to search for the defendant and was arrested for common assault and criminal damage which were later withdrawn by the injured party.

When he was arrested Downey became violent and kneed an officer.

He also resisted police. The officer suffered tenderness around the right eye.

Mr Peter Murphy, defence solicitor representing the defendant, said Downey had taken quite a lot of alcohol.

He explained when the defendant was arrested he argued that he was not responsible for anything and foolishly resisted the 
officers.

Downey had spent 15 days in custody before the charges were withdrawn.

Imposing the suspended sentences and compensation District Judge, Mr Paul 
Copeland, described this as ‘outrageous behaviour’.