Shouted '˜up the UDA and the IRA'

When she refused to speak to the man he walked up the bus shouting ‘up the UDA’ and ‘up the IRA’.

He was 41-year-old David Thompson, Millbank View, Corbet, and he admitted disorderly behaviour on an Ulsterbus and common assault on a female.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court.

Last Thursday’s sitting of Banbridge Magistrates Court heard that on September 5 last year shortly before midday the injured party was waiting for a bus from Banbridge to Newry.

Thompson, who was intoxicated, approached her and tried to engage in conversation. As she got on the bus he brushed his hand against her shoulder using the flat of his hand.

He sat beside her on the bus and she felt uncomfortable. Thompson asked her why she was not speaking to him.

He then walked up the bus and shouted ‘up the UDA’ and ‘up the IRA’.

Thompson told police he could not remember the events because he was intoxicated but regretted his actions.

A solicitor representing the defendant said his client had been drinking from early in the morning.

He added that Thompson would apologise to the injured party and the other passengers on the bus. For disorderly behaviour Thompson was fined £200 and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy and a £150 fine was imposed for the assault.