Disorderly man in middle of road

He was Damien Joseph Young, of no fixed abode, who pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour, jaywalking and resisting police on December 2. He had only been released from prison on November 28 and was found standing in the middle of the road shouting and swearing at members of the public and traffic had to manoeuvre around him to avoid hitting him.

Officers moved Young off the road but he continued to be abusive. He began shouting and swearing at the police and continued shouting at members of the public.

The 49-year-old was arrested and he struggled with police.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley told the court that for the first time in a long time his client had a potential address in Strabane.

He said Young was a long established street drinker and the time period between when he got out of prison and when he re-offended was getting shorter and shorter.

District Judge Barney McElholm said: “If he would go to Strabane and stay there I for one would be happy”.

He suspended a six month jail term for two years and imposed a conditional discharge.