A TRILLICK man who told police they would “go the same way” as murdered police officer Ronan Kerr while socialising after St Patrick’s Day has been told if he doesn’t reoffend within the next six months he will not go to jail. 

Paul Murphy (29) of Woodview Crescent, Trillick appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday charged with disorderly behaviour and assault on a police officer after the incident in the early hours of March 18. 

At around 1.30am police on patrol in Enniskillen observed what appear to be a verbal altercation between two men. The officers intervened, and in the course of their intervention they spoke to Murphy, who refused to give the police his details and told them to “f**k off.” 

Murphy then clenched his fists and raised them as if to punch an officer. At this point there were around 30 people in the vicinity. The defendant was told to go home but refused, and raised his fist again saying “I’ll take you all on.” 

He was arrested and taken to Enniskillen Police Station and on the way to the station he was aggressive and was kicking the back of the car seats. Murphy then said “Ronan Kerr went the right way, and you’ll go the same way,” to the officers. 

He again became verbally abusive at the station, and when he was refused a cigarette he replied “I’ll smoke you.” When they tried to put him in a cell, he grabbed an officer around the head and had to be pulled off him. 

Defence solicitor Michael Fahy said Murphy was “regretful and remorseful” and knew there was no excuse for his comments and behaviour. He said Murphy had “zero recollection” of the events, explaining they occurred “in the aftermath of St Patrick’s Day” when “people consume an inordinate amount of alcohol.”

Mr Fahy said alcohol was the direct reason Murphy was before the court, and said the defendant realised he was in danger of going to prison as he was in breach of a suspended sentence from two years ago. 

The solicitor said Murphy’s emotional well-being was fragile and was made worse by drinking, but he was seeking counselling for the problem. Mr Fahy said Murphy had a strong work ethic and was always in employment. He said losing his employment would “set him back”, although “he’d only have himself to blame.”

District Judge Nigel Broderick said there was “every reason” he should send Murphy to prison, and said the only reason he wasn’t going to was because of his job. He said he was going to defer sentencing for six months, until January 23 2017. If Murphy stays out of trouble he will be given community service, if not he will be given a custodial sentence.