Mobile library van was pelted with eggs

Appearing before Banbridge Magistrates Court was Ryan Nathan McGivern from Manor Heights.

District Judge Mr Paul Copeland was told that unemployed McGivern’s behaviour was borne not out of malice but rather boredom.

Mr Copeland adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report with a view to McGivern carrying out community service.

The court heard how on 18 February last year, library staff in Rathfriland contacted police to report a number of young people causing a disturbance.

The mobile library was in the public car park at Rathfriland Community Centre when the young people approached.

Library staff asked them to leave but they became verbally abusive before leaving. However, they came back and pelted the bus with eggs. A member of the public avoided being struck with an egg and quickly reported the incident to police.

McGivern was the only person identified. He admitted making a nuisance of himself and rocking the library bus. He further admitted shouting at the librarians and buying and throwing the eggs.

Mr Copeland said, “This was outrageous. These library staff were there providing a service to the community and the defendant and others set out to intimidate, harass, frighten and abuse these staff members. Eggs were thrown and the staff inside felt intimidated and menaced in the most outrageous of circumstances. I am of a good mind to consider a custodial sentence to set out a marker in this appalling case.”

A solicitor said his client no longer lived in Rathfriland and had moved to Newry with his parents.

“He apologises to the court and thankfully no one was injured.”

Mr Copeland enquired about McGivern’s previous record and was told that he had one previous from the youth court - which was a caution for theft in August of last year.

He said, “I will adjourn this for a specific sentence report for Community Service. It is time you did something useful and purposeful rather than use your time through boredom to harass innocent people.”

“I am warning you that if you do no co-operate with the Probation Service you are in big trouble.”

McGivern will be sentenced on 23 January.