Derry man who used homophobic slurs directed at police officers told 'no room for hate and prejudice'
Adam Hegarty (25) of Inishowen Gardens in Derry admitted four counts of assault on police
A man who used homophobic slurs directed at police officers has been told in other circumstances he would have gone straight to prison.
Adam Hegarty (25) of Inishowen Gardens in Derry admitted four counts of assault on police and one count of disorderly behaviour that occurred on February 19 this year.
The court was told that police were called to a bed and breakfast in Spencer Road to a report of a disturbance.
When there Hegarty became abusive to police and struggled with them.
He grappled with one officer pulling his armoured vest and spat in the face of another.
Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said that his client was embarrassed by the incident and wished to apologise for his behaviour.
He said the offences occurred after a break up with his partner whichever had taken very badly.
District Judge Ted Magill said that Hegarty was charged with assaulting police aggravated by hatred.
He said that 'there is no room for hate and prejudice' as we have enough of it as it stands.
The judge said if he had made his homophobic slurs in the context of a gay pride event he would be going straight to prison.
He also told Hegarty that spitting in someone's face during the pandemic would also have attracted an immediate custodial sentence.
He sentenced Hegarty to 18 months probation.