Behaviour could have '˜incited a riot'

Ryan Curley, of Ferndale Drive, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour, assaulting police and indecent behaviour on September 19, last year.

Derry Magistrate’s Court heard Curley was publicly urinating in front of a crowd of people, including many young females.

When police arrived on the scene he ‘waved the offending member’ at the officers in a ‘lewd, obscene fashion’.

Curley also began shouting obscenities at the police.

The defendant also resisted arrest and struggled with the officers.

The court was told elements within the crowd reacted to this and it could have ‘turned very nasty, very quickly’.

Defence counsel Ciaran Roddy said his client ‘accepts his behaviour was nothing short of disgraceful’.

He said his client was ‘keen to make this sort of behaviour a thing of the past’.

Passing sentence, District Judge Barney McElholm said this was an ‘absolutely disgraceful incident’ and ‘just the thing this city needs when it is becoming ever more popular with tourists’.

The judge told Curley he could have ‘incited a riotous situation’ on this night.

Judge McElholm formally deferred sentencing on one of the charges until December. He then ordered Curley to complete the probation order and 100 hours community service.

The judge also fined the defendant £200.