Street drinker barredfrom '˜Hillbilly's' area

Paul Farren ( 26) of Clooney Terrace, admitted resisting and assaulting police during the incident. The court heard from an officer who explained how police originally attended Hillbilly’s on October 27 following a report Mr Farren had been abusive towards staff.

Asked to leave, he continued returning and actually had to be removed by the manager, the police constable said.

He was eventually arrested and bailed by police on condition he avoid the fast food outlet, the court heard. The police constable said Mr Farren was observed to breach his bail conditions by standing at the corner of Sackville Street on Wednesday.

He was arrested but resisted arrest and refused to get into a police vehicle. A Tactical Support Group Landrover then arrived but Mr Farren kicked one of its crew whilst he was being put into it, the constable claimed. The officer told the court the PSNI was objecting to bail due to the risk of re-offending.

During one of his encounters with police he said he’d drank a couple of whiskeys and two bottles of Buckfast.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said: “He very well may be one of those people who stays off drink for a time but when he goes back on it he goes back on it with a vengeance. This seems to have happened here.”

Mr Quigley said his client might have misunderstood his bail conditions and referred to the store’s unique location.

“Victoria Car Park, I don’t know what it is about car parks, but it’s the same at John Street, street drinkers, for whatever reason, seem to gravitate towards them.”

District Judge Barney McElholm said: “I’m going to give him a chance, one chance and one chance only.”

He was granted his own bail of £400 and ordered not to go within 100 metres of Hillbilly’s. A pre-sentence report was ordered for December 16.