Derry man who shouted abuse at anti-racism protest handed suspended sentence
Jason Murphy (32) of Dennett Gardens in Derry admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour on August 7 motivated by hostility
A man who a solicitor said 'does not have a political bone in his body' has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court today for shouting abuse at the anti-racism protest in the Guildhall Square on August 7.
Jason Murphy (32) of Dennett Gardens in Derry admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour on August 7 motivated by hostility.
The court heard that at around 5.40pm police observed a man, Murphy, lying on the Strand Road and when he got up he was 'aggressive and abusive'.
Murphy then tried to start a fight with another man before making his way towards the Guildhall Square where the protest was taking place.
On his way there he was abusive to members of the public before entering the Guildhall Square.
There he shouted' f--k Palestine' and 'they are all Palestinian b------s'.
He refused to co-operate with police when he was arrested.
Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that the incident began with Murphy lying drunk in the street.
He said Murphy had not gone to the Guildhall 'to protest against the protest' but was probably looking for his next drink.
The solicitor said that there were much worse examples of racial hostility and added Murphy apologised for his behaviour.
District Judge Barney McElholm said Murphy was 'hopelessly drunk' and probably would have shouted at the protesters if they had been agitating for more mobile libraries.
He said if he thought Murphy had been trying to disrupt the 'peaceful and completely law abiding protest' he would have taken a different attitude.
Murphy was given a three month sentence suspended for two years.