Enniskillen Court House,
A young Enniskillen man who repeatedly claimed that police officers were “raping me” and called them ‘black bastards’ has been told he was very close to a “custodial sentence”, at the Magistrates Court.
The court also heard that Sean, Michael Ciaran Corrigan, Ross Close, Enniskillen elbowed a police constable in the face and fractured his nose as he was being brought into custody on Christmas Eve.
The 26 year-old defendant, who also spat in the police car, admitted charges of disorderly behaviour, resisting police, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and causing criminal damage to a police car.
Prosecutor Ms Mullan told the court the court Corrigan was standing in the middle of the road outside the Crowe’s Nest pub when police arrived at 1.40 am on Christmas Eve.
He refused to move when asked to do so and was taken to the footpath by officers.
When asked for his details he refused and called the police “f*****g black bastards” and told them to “f**k off”.
The defendant was resisting arrest and was handcuffed.
He yelled: “They are raping me, they are raping me” as he was being put in the police car.
The court heard Corrigan elbowed an officer in the face, a blow that drew blood.
The court was told that Corrigan then tried to headbutt an officer while in the car and was also aggressive to the custody officer in the police station.
He made no reply when initially questioned in the station.
The Prosecutor told the court the injured officer went to Omagh Hospital to get his nose re-set and was in hospital on the date of last week’s court.
The court was told the defendant had no previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Mr Kearns said it was “completely unusual” for a man like his client to be engaging in “unedifying and disgraceful behaviour”.
His client said he was deeply ashamed of his behaviour and nothing he could say would justify his behaviour towards the police in a public place.
The solicitor said his client’s “unsavoury comments were entirely unacceptable”.
He said his client would like to extend his deepest apologies and no police officer should be subject to such behaviour. His client was not trying to hide behind drink as a background to his behaviour either, the court heard.
Judge Nigel Broderick told the court that he had it at the “front of my mind” to send the defendant to jail.
‘To assault a police officer and to fracture his nose is a very serious matter. The only thing saving you is your clear previous record”.
The judge said he was “satisfied” the defendant had come to his senses and had expressed real remorse.
“Of course this is too late for the constable who was injured.
“With some hesitation I am going to impose a Probation and Combination Order.
The judge ordered the defendant to be place on 12 months Probation where he would engage in a peace at work schemes as directed.The judge also ordered the defendant to pay £500 to the injured constable. He also ordered the defendant to complete 100 hours of community service.
“If you breach this order the likelihood is that you are going to jail”.
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