A Portadown man who tried to punch a police officer who was trying to take him home after he was found intoxicated has been sentenced to one month in prison.
The 44-year-old’s barrister told court: “This is a man who has struggled with alcohol and this offence occurred whilst he was on the drink, so to speak.”
Eamon Edward McCann, Garvaghy Park, pleaded guilty to assault on police at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday, via videolink from Maghaberry.
It was heard that on August 11, at around 2.35am, police received a report of a disturbance at a kebab shop on William Street, Lurgan.
Officers arrived to find the defendant who was intoxicated, they noted that his speech was slurred and he was struggling to stand.
Police, concerned for McCann’s safety, placed him in the rear of their vehicle in order to take him home.
However, the defendant refused to tell the officers where he lived.
One of the officers went to speak to McCann in the rear of the vehicle and he attempted to punch them.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
Defence barrister John McCann stated: “Mr McCann is currently serving a seven month sentence for similar offences and is due for release on December 12.
“This was a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity, this is a man who has struggled with alcohol and this offence occurred whilst he was on the drink, so to speak”.
McCann was sentenced to one month in prison.
