A man with more than 100 previous convictions has been remanded in custody after a violent spree in Markethill which included him allegedly smashing a shop window with a breeze block and attempting to put a shop owner in a headlock.
Jonathan Brady, 31, of Mourneview in Mowhan, appeared before Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with two counts of common assault, disorderly behaviour, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, criminal damage and theft.
The court heard that on Tuesday, January 6, police were called to the NISA store on Main Street, Markethill, following reports that a man had damaged the shop window and assaulted a member of staff.
When officers arrived, the defendant was being restrained on the ground by several members of the public.
A witness told police that Brady had been in the off-licence section of the store attempting to purchase alcohol. When the shop owner informed him that he could not sell alcohol due to the time, the defendant became argumentative and began squaring up to him.
After being told he was barred from the shop, Brady is alleged to have left towards an alleyway opposite the premises before returning a short time later carrying a breeze block, which he threw through the front shop window, smashing it and scattering glass across the store and into the ice cream counter.
Brady then allegedly re-entered the shop, grabbed the shop owner by the neck and attempted to place him in a headlock. Members of the public intervened and restrained him to the floor.
During the alleged incident, Brady acted aggressively towards the shop owner and another man and threatened to shoot them.
Police said he continued to behave in a disorderly manner on their arrival, shouting in the shop in full view of customers and members of the public, and had to be placed in a police cell van.
The shop owner also told police that at around 9.58pm the previous evening, January 5, the defendant had entered the store and stolen a bottle of Captain Morgan’s rum valued at £17.29, making no attempt to pay.
Brady was arrested on suspicion of two common assaults, criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon, disorderly behaviour and theft. He replied, “What a load of…,” and was conveyed to Banbridge custody.
While he was in custody, police were alerted to a further incident following a 999 call received at 1.25am on January 6. Officers attended an address and found all three front windows of a property smashed.
The occupant told police that Brady had called to her home at around 6.30pm the previous evening and had been drinking there for about an hour before she asked him to leave.
Later that night, while she was inside the house with her friend and mother, she heard windows being smashed and the defendant shouting outside. She said she had known Brady for a number of years and recognised his voice.
In interview, the defendant made no comment to all questions.
Police objected to bail, stating Brady was likely to commit further offences. The court heard he has 103 previous convictions, many for similar matters, is currently subject to a suspended sentence imposed in June 2025, is on probation from October 2024, and has a history of failing to attend court, with four previous bench warrants — the most recent in November 2025 — as well as five previous breaches of bail.
Defence barrister Kevin O’Hare suggested a bail address in Clady, several miles from Markethill, along with an exclusion zone around the town, could mitigate the risk.
He told the court Brady had longstanding issues with alcohol and that family difficulties over the Christmas period had led to a relapse.
District Judge Eamon King refused bail, telling the defendant he had been known to the court since 2012.
“You understand how to behave and how not to behave, and this is a classic example of how not to behave,” the judge said.
“The public and the community are entitled to be protected against conduct such as this. People are trying to earn a living and make the best of themselves, and they are subjected to this type of conduct, with your only excuse being that you have a drink problem.
“If you have a drink problem, it’s about time you took steps to address it.”
Brady was remanded in custody due to the risk of further offences, interference with witnesses and the likelihood he would fail to surrender to bail.
The case was adjourned with Brady due back at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on January 27.
