A local judge has fined a 20-year-old Derry man for using the sort of language ‘you would hear on a Channel 4 sitcom’.
Jonathan McDaid, of Creggan Heights, admitted a charge of disorderly manner for an incident on November 6, 2016.
Police were tasked to ‘a disturbance in the William Street area’ on that date. The defendant was said to have been wearing ‘distinctive clothing’ and along with other people was ‘shouting a particular slogan’.
Defence solicitor Kieran Shiels said his client was ‘very distinctive’ and that is what brought him before the court ‘in splendid isolation’ while others escaped uncharged.
Referring to the slogan that was shouted, District Judge Barney McElholm said: “That’s the sort of language you would hear in a Channel 4 sitcom.”
Mr Shiels described his client as a ‘hard-working young man’ and he said the summary of events was ‘very fair’.
McDaid was part of a drunken group, he explained, and each were ‘trying to exhibit more silly bravado than the other’.
The court was told that the 20-year-old has committed no further offences.
Fining him £200, Judge McElholm said it was ‘safe to say’ that McDaid ‘occasionally takes too much drink’.
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.
