A Keady man accused of assaulting several police officers more than eight years ago has been handed a conditional discharge.
Daniel McGonnell, 29, of Crossdened Row, appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with disorderly behaviour, assault on police and resisting arrest.
The incident took place on the night of December 9, 2009, in Market Square, Armagh.
The court heard how McGonnell jumped in front of a police vehicle and appeared very intoxicated.
It was at this point police instructed the defendant to go home.
McGonnell continued to shout at the police, and as they followed him into nearby Scotch Street, they issued him with a final warning.
However, the defendant then slapped one of the constables on the backside and grabbed another by the throat.
McGonnell is currently on remand in relation to two other matters, with the defence counsel stating he had been in custody since August last year, with the exception of one week.
According to the defence, McGonnell “believed that this case had been dropped” given the time that has since expired.
District Judge Paul Copeland quipped, “perhaps he hoped it had been dropped”.
Judge Copeland added that “the defendant has various charges in the past for reckless, disorderly and confrontational behaviour”.
The Judge decided that given that some time had passed since this incident and any offences of disorderly conduct McGonnell would be given a conditional discharge for the next two years.
However, he did warn him that if he was to re-offend “these cases could be revisited on other charges”.
