Spat blood and saliva into officer’s face

Stephen Thomas Gracey, Enniskeen, Craigavon, admitted a number of charges when he appeared at court last Wednesday.

They were disorderly behaviour at William Street in Lurgan on February 1 this year, assaulting a constable, assaulting another officer, resisting an officer and damaging a police cell.

The court heard that at 10.50pm police received a report of a man covered in blood outside a bar in William Street.

Gracey, who earlier in the evening had been cautioned for disorderly behaviour, 
had blood on his face, neck and left ear.

His behaviour was very erratic and aggressive and he was shouting and swearing. He was warned about his behaviour.

The defendant’s father arrived and requested him to go to hospital. Gracey refused to get in the car and lunged at a police officer. He had to be restrained and he threw a punch which hit the officer on the left shoulder.

Gracey continued to struggle and when police attempted to handcuff him he spat blood and saliva in the face of an officer.

He continued to be verbally abusive and police believed he was hallucinating. In the police station they found a pool of urine in the middle of his cell.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said that although Gracey had only a limited record he would require a pre-sentence report and 
adjourned the matter until April 16.