Tyrone man shouted ‘Up the Ra’ at crowd

Pearse McCracken (23), of Orritor Lane, admitted charges of disorderly behaviour and criminal damage in relation to a police car arising out of the incident on July 26 last.

Prosecution counsel told East Tyrone Magistrates Court sitting in Dungannon last Friday that at approximately 9.20pm, police were called to the disturbance.

He said a crowd of between 10-15 people had assembled including residents, and they were shouting at three males to go away and that they were not wanted.

Counsel said McCracken was shouting and swearing towards this group and moved towards them, trying to push past police.

He shouted ‘f*** off’, ‘Up the hoods’, and ‘Up the Ra’ and spat on a police car, said the lawyer, who added that on being arrested the defendant said he was being attacked by Sinn Féin.

A defence barrister explained that it was McCracken’s first time before the court and at the time of the offences he had been expelled from his household and was doing drugs and got “in with the wrong crowd”.

He said he was “talking gibberish” on the night and had now moved back with his parents and was in a relationship.

The lawyer stressed there has been no further offending since last July.

In relation to a charge of stealing food valued £10 from Burn Road Filling Station on July 25 last, McCracken was fined £185 with a £15 offender levy.