Derry judge describes paramilitaries as 'simply child abusers'

District Judge Barney McElholm has slammed what he termed 'the self appointed guardians of the community' as 'simply child abusers.'

His comments came in a case involving a 19-year-old man who the court heard had been forced to leave Derry and go into a children's home following threats from paramilitaries when he was aged just 15.

Eoin Collins 0f no fixed abode admitted assaulting police and being disorderly on October 13 this year when he appeared by videolink at Derry Magistrate's Court.

The court was told that police had gone to the Methodist Mission to relay a threat to Collins.

As a result of the threat Collins lost his place in the Mission and after police spoke to him he went to collect his belongings.

He came back downstairs and then became verbally and physically aggressive towards police.

Collins kicked one officer and spat at another and as he was being brought to a police vehicle he kicked out at another and limb restraints had to be used.

Defence barrister Mr. Stephen Chapman said that at age 15 Collins had been subjected to a paramilitary threat and was forced to leave Derry and go into a children's home in Belfast.

He had recently returned to the city and police discovered that some people had visited his mother's home and re-issued the threat.

Mr. Chapman said that Collins was 'not happy' when he was told this and 'directed his anger towards police.'

He added that Collins accepts that his behaviour was not right.

Judge McElholm said Collins was in breach of a suspended sentence from Ballymena Court and added that the court was 'not impressed' that he should get a chance one day and breach it the next.

He went on: "The police have nothing to do with that other bunch of thugs.

"His anger should be directed at the self appointed guardians of the community who not only go after adults but shoot children and beat children up.

"They are simply child abusers."

Collins was sentenced to three months in prison.