Man sentenced for sectarian abuse of police at Derry church
Court told defendant turned on helpful member of the public and officers
Derry Magistrate's Court today was told how when police responded to a report of a man climbing the railings of a church in Clooney Terrace they were subjected to 'verbal sectarian abuse'.
Ryan Patrick Smith (39) with an address at Devonshire Street in Belfast admitted being disorderly in Clooney Terrace on May 8 this year and also a charge of assault on police on the same date.
The court was told that police responded to the report they found Smith who told them he had been in hospital for drug issues but left.
Smith began to abuse a female who had tried to help him and then began abusing police.
He tried to walk away and when police stopped him and tried to handcuff him he became aggressive shouting sectarian abuse.
Defence counsel Sinead Rogan said that her client was 'upset' at how he behaved.
Deputy District Judge Trevor Browne said that this sort of behaviour seemed to be 'out of character ' for Smith.
Smith was sentenced to 18 months probation .