A Portadown man who launched a “foul mouthed tirade” at police, referring to them as “black b*******”, has been ordered to pay a fine of £500.
Sentencing the 21-year-old, the deputy district judge commented: “The constable should be commended for not raising his baton.”
Kevin Wilson, of Rose Cottages, had a plea of guilty entered on his behalf to disorderly behaviour at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that on October 23, at around 9pm, police on foot patrol responded to reports of a number of youths congregating at a spot known as the ‘Bull Ring’ in the Ballyoran area of Portadown.
Officers arrived to encounter upwards of 50 youths in the area. One male, who was identified as the defendant, tried to get the crowd to disperse.
A firework was thrown from the crowd and landed on the ground nearby Wilson, who claimed to have been injured.
At 9.35pm, it was established the incident had no adverse effect on the defendant. He then began filming police on his phone calling them “black b*******”.
Wilson was warned about his behaviour but he continued and told police: “I will spend a night in a cell. It doesn’t bother me.”
Defence solicitor Joseph McDonald commented that the defendant had initially tried to help police but had reacted in the way he did due to problems with “anxiety”.
Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes stated: “That is as bad a foul mouthed tirade as I have seen in a long time. The constable should be commended for not raising his baton.”
Wilson was ordered to pay a fine of £500, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 26 weeks.
