Man ordered to pay £400 compensation to police officers

Andrew Mark McCune (28), Russell Drive, Lurgan, was also given 100 hours community service.

He admitted two charges of assault on police officers on October 18 last year and one offence of disorderly behaviour.

The court heard that a police mobile patrol in Lurgan saw two men fighting outside the International Bar. hey separated them but then the defendant became involved and was abusive towards police.

He grabbed the earpiece of one officer and pulled it out and struck an officer on the face as he struggled.

A barrister for McCune said the initial incident involved another man and the defendant’s father who went to the police station to explain that his son was not the instigator.

The defendant had a previous record but it went back some time to 2009. A pre-sentence report rated him as a low likelihood of re-offending.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said the two assaults on police were the most serious offences.

He told McCune he became involved in something he should have left alone.

Imposing the community service the judge ordered the defendant to pay £200 compensation to each of the two officers.