Barricaded resident of homeless shelter in room

Ryan Ferguson McGreechan, whose address was given on court papers as Bonds Hill, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment on November 3, last year.

Derry Crown Court heard that McGreechan had an argument with staff at the Simon Community and then accused the injured party, another resident, of making a complaint about him.

McGreechan barricaded the injured party in his room after police were called.

He told the man he was going nowhere and lifted a knife from a dresser.

When police approached the bedroom door, the defendant told them that if they came in he would slit the injured party’s throat.

Officers banged on the door and when it started to open, McGreechan went behind the injured party and put the knife to his throat.

The incident ended when police used a taser on McGreechan.

The injured party was not injured but described being scared that the defendant would kill him.

During police interview, the 25-year-old initially answered no comment. However, after he was shown footage of the incident he claimed that the injured party wanted to stay in the room.

The court heard that McGreechan was on licence at the time of the incident, for offences of rape and indecent assault. This licence was revoked and he is not due to be released until June 2022.

It was revealed the injured party has since passed away and Judge Philip Babington offered his condolences to the man’s family.

Passing sentence, the judge said the incident ‘could have ended in a very different way had it not been for the very careful and skilful management of the incident by the police’.

The judge suspended a two year sentence for four years.