Enniskillen courthouse
AN ENNISKILLEN man who assaulted four police officers has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Alan Davenport (35) of Beech Hill, Cavanaleck appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court for sentencing last Wednesday after previously pleading guilty to four counts of assault on a police officer.
Police had been called to Davenport’s ex-partner’s house on February 7th this year, after she had reported he was outside her home kicking the front door. When the officers arrived they spoke to both Davenport and his former partner, and no complaint was made. Davenport was asked to leave.
Around 15 minutes later the officers were called back to the area. They arrested the defendant who was swearing and kicking out. He kicked one officer in the leg, another in the arm, and headbutted another.
When taken to Omagh Police Station, he punched another officer in the face.
Defence barrister Stefan Rafferty said it had been “an unsavoury incident” that wouldn’t have happened if Davenport hadn’t drank so much then gone to his ex-partner’s home.
Mr Rafferty said the assaults had been during the course of his arrest when Davenport, who had a previous conviction for resisting police, was struggling with the officers. He said his level of drunkenness had got the better of him and he’d lashed out.
With regard the headbutt, the barrister said it may have sounded nasty “at first blush” but Davenport had struck the officer in the chest and body armour. He added there was “still no excuse for it.”
Mr Rafferty said Davenport remembered little of the incident, and fully accepted his culpability.
He added Davenport bore no ill will towards the police or the officers, and said the defendant has suffered a number of bereavements around the time of the incident.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the attack seemed to have been fuelled by alcohol but that was not an excuse as the officers had been carrying out a public service. Judge Ranaghan said it was lucky the officers had not suffered serious injuries.
Davenport, who had a previous criminal record in Scotland but few convictions here, was sentenced to four month in prison, suspended for two years.
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