A man who was bare-chested and rioting in Portadown after going out in the approach to his 21st Birthday and downing two bottles of Buckfast, has been released on bail.
Jamie Smyth, a landscaper, of Derrylileagh Road, The Birches, made admissions after being charged with rioting on Saturday June 14.
When he actually turned 21 a number of 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 told an earlier court 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 told the earlier court the defendant made “full admissions” and had expressed disgust in himself”.
The solicitor said: “His explanation for being in Portadown 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”.
Friday’s Court was told the defendant, who appeared via video link from prison, had been in custody since June 16.
A defence solicitor said the defendant “got mixed up in something that he shouldn’t’ have done and he has made admissions in relation to that”.
Things “on the ground” have quietened down with no rioting for some weeks now, it was said.
Objecting to bail a police officer said further footage has now been obtained which showed that as well as rioting in the early hours of June 14 the defendant was also involved in disturbances after 10.30pm on June 13.
In the June 13 incidents the defendant had “thrown bottles on numerous occasions”; he had thrown a black metal letter bin; and had thrown fireworks.
She said if bailed there was a risk of reoffending.
The defence solicitor said the defendant wished to apologise for being involved in trouble.
The defendant received torn ligaments in his hand and leg and had to get medical attention after an incident on the night.
It was said “everyone makes mistakes” and the defendant has admitted his mistakes.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said there had been a “real drive and a real public interest” in keeping riot suspects in custody but time has passed and if not released the defendant will have served the equivalent of an eight months sentence by the time the case is at the Crown Court.
The judge said he was “reluctantly granting bail” due to the passage of time and he did not believe the risk of further offending was made out.
The defendant was given £500 bail long with a £1,000 surety. He is barred from Portadown apart from medical, probation and legal appointments; he is not to be under the influence of alcohol; there is a 9pm-6am curfew when he is electronically tagged; and he is not to attend any public demonstrations or protests.
The case was adjourned to August 29.
