Man who misunderstood bail conditions charged with assaulting police
Gareth Wray (46) of Spencer Road in Derry was charged with assaulting a police officer on October 7
A man who has 'a chronic problem with alcohol' and who misunderstood his bail conditions has appeared at Derry Magistrates' Court today charged with assaulting police.
Gareth Wray (46) of Spencer Road in Derry was charged with assaulting a police officer on October 7.
A police officer connected the accused to the charge and opposed bail.
He told the court that Wray had appeared in court on Saturday past and had been released on condition he was not intoxicated in public.
On October 7 Wray had been arrested and whole being taken to custody came verbally abusive to police calling an officer 'a Fenian b-----d'.
It was believed Wray was attempting to harm himself and when an officer intervened he punched him twice.
The defendant had to be restrained.
Bail was opposed due to the risk of reoffending and the defendant's problem with alcohol.
Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that Wray's alcohol problem was such that management was the only option.
He said that the defendant had not understood his bail conditions and thought they just meant he was not to drink in public.
The solicitor asked for him to be released on bail to an address approved by the PSNI although he accepted his client would 'struggle to get an address'.
Wray was released on bail to a suitable address and will appear again on November 6.