A 36-year-old man who became aggressive and sectarian towards police who were investigating shots being fired into his house has been given a four-month suspended sentence.
Mark Brady, of Racecourse Drive, appeared before Derry Magistrates Court charged with disorderly behaviour, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, namely a knuckle duster, and possession of cannabis.
He was further charged with assault on police. The offences took place on August 1, 2017.
The court heard that police had been called to Brady’s Racecourse Drive home after shots had been fired at his house. Brady was told he would be required to vacate the house for police to carry out a full investigation.
The following morning at 11.40am, Brady came back and told police he needed back into the house but when he was told he would need to stay out longer for the investigation to be carried out, he became ‘belligerent’ and tried to break through the police line.
He also began to shout and swear and aimed much of this at a female police officer, threatening to head butt her. He also called another officer a Protestant c***.
Brady was then arrested and a knuckleduster was found in his jacket. He smelled of cannabis so police carried out a search in his home and found a small amount of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.
Nicola Coulter, defence solicitor, said that the language Brady had used was ‘distasteful and unacceptable’.
She said that Brady had been to the police station until the early hours of the morning and had been told he would be able to get back in the next day. Ms Coulter said that when Brady wasn’t allowed back in by police, he ‘reacted badly’.
She added that the knuckleduster had been bought by Brady from Thailand and that it had remained in his jacket pocket and he had not threatened anyone with it.
Ms Coulter said that Brady has sole custody of his two children and that he had a good work ethic and had owned a business but moved back home.
She said that Brady had been the subject of a violent attack two years ago and the person responsible had been imprisoned for it but that Brady had begun using cannabis to deal with anxiety that arose from the attack. However, she said he had given it up after the matters for which he found himself in court.
Ms Coulter said that Brady has a relevant record but had not offended since 2008 and was disappointed he has found himself back before the courts.
District Judge Barney McElholm said: “His language and behaviour towards police was nasty, sectarian and, indeed, misogynistic.
“His attitudes and beliefs are abhorrent and if he is to consider himself any kind of role model for a child, he wouldn’t use that kind of language.
“I can understand him being distraught and angry at people firing bullets into his house but direct that anger at the murderous thugs that did it and not the police.”
Judge McElholm warned Brady that this was his ‘final chance’ and if there was any repetition of similar behaviour, he would send him ‘straight to prison’.
Brady was given a four month prison sentence suspended for two years and a destruction order was made for the cannabis and knuckleduster.
ABOVE - Police pictured at the scene of the shooting last year.
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 editor@derrynews.net at any time.