Punched a police officer on the hand

Daniel Irvine (39), of Clarendon Park, Magheralin admitted an assault charge following the incident on January 8.

He also pleaded guilty to driving without due and attention, which also occurred on that date.

Lisburn court heard that when the defendant was stopped, a police officer had to jump out of the way of Irivine’s vehicle after Irvine caused the vehicle’s front wheels to spin.

It was added that when police reached in to grab the keys, the defendant punched the officer on the hand.

A defending solicitor told Lisburn Magistrates’ Court that Irvine was frustrated at police stopping him..

“He didn’t know why police had stopped him but he knows that he should have been able to conduct himself with police. All of this is completely unnecessary,” defence said.

The defending solicitor told the court that Irvine had been in breach of a suspended sentence.

District Judge Rosie Watters sentenced Irvine to five months which was suspended for two years and disqualified him for driving from six months. He was also fined £150 for the offence but the original suspended sentence was not put into operation.