Man forced ambulance to swerve on Derry road

A 27-year-old man who put a wheelie bin and kicked a bucket onto Duke Street in Derry's Waterside blocked traffic and caused an ambulance to swerve, the local Magistrates Court has been told.

Mark Doherty, of Deramore Drive in Strathfoyle, admitted indecent behaviour and obstruction of a road.

The court heard Doherty appeared "fearful and emotional" when observed standing in the middle of the road on the top deck of Craigavon Bridge in the early hours 13 December last.

He was taken by police to a taxi rank but left and walked to nearby Duke Street where he kicked a bucket on to the road and obstructed the road with a wheelie bin.

The court was told an ambulance had to swerve around the bin to get past it.

The court heard Doherty then urinated in full view of passing motorists.

A defence solicitor told the court his client had been on a Christmas work night out and had been under the influence of "a lot of alcohol."

She added her client accepted he had acted in an irresponsible and stupid manner and that he only drunk alcohol "once in a blue moon."

Doherty, who is currently paying £3,000 in fines, was remanded on bail to February 12 for the purpose of a pre-sentence report.