Man tried to cut his throat while drunk

David William Kennedy (48), Kenlis Court, Banbridge, appeared last Thursday at the local magistrates’ court.

He was fined £500 for disorderly behaviour at Kenlis Court on November 16 this year.

Kennedy was also bound over in the sum of £500 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years.

The court heard that at 5.46pm police were called to an incident where the defendant was trying to cut his throat with a knife. He said he wanted to die.

He tried to get back into a house and was causing distress to children.

When he was arrested for disorderly behaviour he replied: “I want to die.” He was extremely drunk at the time.

A barrister for Kennedy said he had previously received a suspended sentence for assault on the police.

He explained that the defendant and his father had difficulties with alcohol and the father had taken chest pains so an ambulance was called.

When the paramedics arrived Kennedy was threatening to self harm, added the lawyer.

He said that his client realised there was a real threat of immediate custody but he was very apologetic about his behaviour and says he has not consumed alcohol since this incident.

The court heard the ambulance was called for the defendant’s father but it transpired he was not having a heart attack but it was due to alcohol.

District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, told Kennedy he had 34 previous convictions and on this occasion had confronted neighbours and paramedics in a drunken nuisance of his own making.

He added that the time of the paramedics was wasted ‘by your drunken nonsense’ and the court was losing patience with the defendant.