Jailed for disorderly behaviour

Patrick Farren, of Stoneburn Place, admitted further charges of assaulting police on January 17th.

Derry Magistrate’s Court heard that during the incident the 52-year-old told a police officer his parent was a ‘paedophile.’

Police were called to Farren’s home in the early hours of the morning.

Farren had stopped a neighbour and told him to phone police because he was going to assault his son.

The court heard that police entered the 52-year-old’s home as the argument was ongoing.

Officers stepped between Farren and his son in an attempt to separate them.

Farren then threw a punch at an officer, narrowly missing him.

The 52-year-old was taken outside his home and became verbally abusive, calling the officers ‘orange b******s’.

He then made the comment that one of the officer’s parents was a paedophile.

Farren was arrested and attempted to spit at police.

The defendant has 201 previous convictions and more than 100 of these are for disorderly behaviour.

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman told the court his client had consumed a lot of alcohol on this night.

He added Farren can’t remember anything about the incident byut admits it and waives his right to a probation report.

The barrister told the court the 52-year-old was released from prison in December and is in breach of a suspended sentence.

He urged the court to give Farren maximum credit for his early plea.

District Judge Barney McElholm jailed the defendant for a total of six months and imposed a £25 offender levy.