Man who shouted abuse at Martin McGuinness during egg throwing incident bound over to keep peace

Aodhan Irwin, of Acacia Avenue, pleaded guilty to two charges of disorderly behaviour on September 10, last year.

Derry Magistrates Court heard Mr McGuinness was giving an interview to RTE on the city’s walls at the time.

A car driven by 21-year-old Irwin went past and those inside began shouting and ‘heckling’ the Deputy First Minister.

The court heard Mr McGuinness’s driver arrived on the scene as the same car drove past again.

They shouted ‘scum’ and ‘Sinn Fein b******’ before an egg was thrown out of the car.

This landed at the feet of Mr McGuinness’s driver and ‘splashed his shoes’.

A short time later the car was seen again at the junction of Westland Terrace and Westland Street.

On this occasion those in the vehicle shouted abuse in the direction of Mr McGuinness’s driver.

Another egg was thrown from the passenger side of the car but this did not hit anyone.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said his client was not involved in throwing the eggs but did shout verbal abuse.

Mr MacDermott said this was ‘political discourse which got a bit hot and heavy. It was over and above what should be said in public’.

Deputy District Judge Brian Archer bound the 21-year-old over to keep the peace for 18 months.