A 46 year-old man with almost 190 public order convictions has been jailed for using disorderly behaviour.

By Melissa Towell

melissa@derrynews.net

Patrick Farren, of Lettershendony Avenue, pleaded guilty to committing the offences on June 16 and August 5 this year.

The court heard in the first incident police were called to A1 taxis on the Spencer Road at approximately 9.30pm after receiving a report of a male causing a disturbance and refusing to leave.

When they got there the defendant was lying unconscious on the floor and they took him outside. Upon wakening him he spat at them and became verbally abusive. He was told to calm down, however he continued in the same manner and was arrested.

After caution, the defendant replied ‘f*** off’.

Then on August 5 police were tasked to Spencer Road again. This time he was lying on the side of the road. At the time of day there were children and other people in the vicinity.

On arrival officers recognised the defendant. They woke him and he became aggressive and verbally abusive. He was warned about his behaviour but continued to shout at police and said ‘up the RA’. Farren was subsequently arrested and taken to Strand Road police station.

Defence solicitor Dermot Downey said there was no excuse in relation to the defendant’s actions but stated there may be light at the end of the tunnel as the defendant will have a place to live at the end of August.

“Part of the problem is when he leaves custody he is right back living on the street, then drinks and gets into trouble again. Now he has made contact with the Housing Executive and they have allocated a property for him.”

He concluded: “At least now he will have somewhere to go.”

District judge Barney McElholm implemented a one month suspended sentence hanging over the defendant and sentenced him to one month for each of the offences before the court concurrent.

He added: “there is nothing I can do until he addresses his alcohol addiction.”