A Maghery man was bare-chested in the middle of a riot in Portadown after going out in the approach to his 21st Birthday and downing two bottles of Buckfast, a defence lawyer told Craigavon Magistrates’ Court.
Jamie Smyth, a landscaper, of Derrylileagh Road, made admissions after being charged with rioting on Saturday, June 14.
When he actually turned 21 three days later he was behind bars on remand.
He appeared at the court on Friday via video link from custody seeking to be released on bail.
A police officer said the defendant was involved in rioting in the early hours of June 14 when there had been a “sustained” attack on police. Water cannon was deployed.
The defendant had thrown stones at police and had smashed a piece of kerbstone.
At one stage he was observed “stopping traffic” and pulling a bin which was on fire and throwing it onto a road to start a blockade. He was masked at one point.
On another occasion he had no t-shirt on at the “front lines” which “made him easily identifiable” and the “air support unit” was able to watch him. He was arrested near Hart Memorial Primary School.
The officer said when interviewed the defendant made admissions and that he had gone to Portadown “specifically to watch” a “demonstration” and “became heavily involved in it”.
A defence solicitor said the defendant made “full admissions” and had expressed disgust in himself”.
The lawyer said the defendant turned 21 in custody.
The solicitor said: “His explanation for being in Portdown that evening was that he actually went to watch a peaceful demonstration but he was there with a friend and it was his birthday.
“He said to police that he had consumed two bottles of Buckfast and he wasn’t a usual drinker”.
The solicitor said Smyth has “made full admissions in relation to his guilt”.
He added: “This is an idiot who went out on his Birthday and got very drunk and got involved”.
“Among many other idiots,” District Judge Michael Ranaghan interjected.
On the night of the rioting the defendant had sustained injuries and had to go to hospital for an operation on a hand injury.
The solicitor said the defendant had no previous convictions and has “learned a lesson” by being in custody since mid-June.
He said Smyth is a “productive member of society” who “made a big mistake” and “many people make big mistakes”.
Judge Ranaghan said the defendant admitted he was a rioter. The judge said the defendant had been “heavily involved”.
He refused bail due to a “risk of further public disorder”.
The judge said he believed the case will be going to the Crown Court but said if there was any delay in the case file a new bail application could be made.
The case was adjourned to August 1.
