Derry Court: Suspended sentence for disorderly behaviour

A man described in court as 'a nuisance who should know better' has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court today.

Sean Paul McGonigle (40) of Hawthorn Drive in Derry admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour that occurred on December 17 last.

The court heard that police were in Chamberlain Street in connection with another incident when McGonigle approached and became a nuisance.

He stood in the middle of the road blocking traffic and refused to move.

On two occasions police moved him and then he started shouting at two females and in the end he had to be physically restrained.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client was a nuisance and at his age he should have known better.

He said it was behaviour that McGonigle knew he couldn't engage in and he wished to apologise.

McGonigle was sentenced to 4 months in prison suspended for two years and fined £300 to bring home to him according to District Judge Barney McElholm that he has 'to stop behaving like this.'