Kicked the door of taxi company

Stephen Mulligan, Brookdale, Banbridge, admitted criminal damage to a door handle belonging to Q Cabs on February 3 this year.

Banbridge Magistrates Court heard last Thursday that Mulligan was in Scarva Street kicking and banging on the door of the taxi firm. It was discovered the door handle had been broken.

Mulligan told police he had drunk two bottles of wine, that he was an alcoholic and had been off the drink for five weeks before this incident.

The cost of the damage had been paid for by Mulligan.

A solicitor representing the defendant said he had an extensive record and when he drinks he tends to be a nuisance.

He explained that this day Mulligan got his money, bought two bottles of wine and went out into the country to drink then before deciding he wanted to get a taxi.

The solicitor added the taxi firm knew him and would not let him in.

He said Mulligan did have a suspended sentence for an assault charge but this was his first criminal damage offence.

Deputy District Judge John Rea said the offence was at the lower end of the scale of criminal damage.

He added that the court would benefit from a pre-sentence report to see whether the probation service could assist the defendant.

The judge adjourned the case until April 13 so that a report could be prepared.