Flicked middle finger at police

Paul Gerard Curran, Glenholme Park, Lurgan, appeared in court via videolink from Maghaberry prison.

For disorderly behaviour on January 22 this year he was given a three month sentence.

He was sentenced to four months for assault on police on March 28 this year, two months for disorderly behaviour on the same date and three months for resisting police. All the sentences are concurrent, making a total of four months in custody.

The court heard that on January 22 at 12.05am in Church Place he flicked a middle finger at police and when they spoke to him he became aggressive and squared up to officers. He was told to calm down but continued to shout and swear before he was arrested.

On March 28 at 2.40pm on the Old Portadown Road Curran, who was carrying a bottle of alcohol, immediately became hostile to police and pushed a constable in the chest.

He began to struggle violently when police tried to arrest him and he had to be brought to the ground. He was drunk and had to be restrained.

A solicitor said that alcohol was involved and a pre-sentence report assessed Curran as a high likelihood of re-offending.

He added that the defendant had lost the run of himself and was now serving a sentence.