PSNI officer was 'very distressed' after assault by man in Craigavon, court hears
"I’ll not go through what you put the officer through but he was obviously very distressed,” a judge told a man who pleaded guilty to assaulting a PSNI constable.
Eoin Clarke, aged 21, from Drumbeg, Craigavon, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday charged with assault on police and resisting police.
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Clarke’s barrister Mr Gavyn Cairns said his client, who has no previous record, pleaded guilty to both charges.
On Sunday August 10 this year at 12.38am police attended a disturbance. Whist attempting to arrest the defendant, he resisted and assaulted one constable.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “It started out somewhat differently on the assaulting police charge.”
Mr Cairns said his client is originally from Co Cavan but moved north of the border “in pursuit of a relationship which he has maintained”.
"Plainly on this particular evening with drink taken his reactions were completely and utterly inappropriate,” said the barrister, adding that his client acted inappropriately as he felt the arrest was inappropriate.
Mr Cairns also pointed out that the matters for which he was arrested and brought police to his home "ultimately came to nothing”.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “You are lucky in the way this matter has resolved. I’ll not go through what you put the officer through but he was obviously very distressed by this particular incident.”
"Unusually, I am going to make an award of compensation to a police officer. It totally vindicates it in your case, Mr Clarke,” he said ordering him to pay the officer £300.
Clarke was also fined £100 for each offence plus £15 Offender Levy.