Co Armagh taxi driver flagged down police in Lurgan to help get a 'sleeping' man out of his cab, Craigavon court hears

Peadar McNamee, aged 39, from Grattan St, Lurgan appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

-

-

He pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour while a charge of criminal damage to a cell van was dismissed.

Police were flagged by a taxi driver in Lurgan on December 9, 2023 at around 9.40pm who told them a passenger had “got into the vehicle and wouldn’t get out of it”.

“Police tried to speak to the defendant who appeared to be sleeping but were unable to get a response. They attempted to rouse him and he became more aggressive, shouting ‘get your hands off me, I'll break your jaw’,” said the Prosecutor, adding he was shouting this in the street where there were members of the public.

"He had exited the vehicle, moved closer into a police officer's face and personal space in a confrontational manner and had to be restrained,” she said.

The Prosecutor added that McNamee tried to walk onto the main road into oncoming traffic and had to be removed and he was "abusive towards officers”.

"Despite several attempts to get him to calm down, they were unable to do so and he was arrested,” she said, adding he was taken to Craigavon Hospital as he was so intoxicated.

McNamee’s barrister Mr Barry McKenna said his client had an issue in his personal life and was drinking a lot after that.

Mr McKenna said his client had been working full time when this incident happened in 2023 but he lost his job.

“He’s kept his nose clean since these events,” said Mr McKenna, asking for leniency.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “There may have been issues ongoing in your life but nobody is allowed to behave in that fashion, especially when police are trying to do their job.

"There has been a gap in similar offending for quite some time.”

McNamee was fined £300 plus the £15 Offender Levy and was allowed 18 weeks to pay.