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Court appearance for man who refused to be handcuffed after row with friend

Defendant spent week in custody after being arrested on a bench warrant

Armagh Magistrates' Court

A man who refused to be handcuffed by police after an argument with a friend has been fined £100.

Court heard the 40-year-old had spent the last week in prison after a bench warrant was executed last Tuesday.

Michael John Reilly, of Lisnaskea, pleaded guilty to resisting police at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Court heard that on April 28 police were called to Corrigan’s Court, in the city, by a male who stated he had got into an argument with the defendant, who was known to him.

At around 10.50pm officers arrived and spoke to Reilly, whom they attempted to arrest.

However, when told that proper protocol called for him to be taken into custody, the defendant began to react aggressively.

Reilly refused to give his details to police or to be handcuffed, complaining of a sore neck.

The defendant was eventually placed in the rear of the police vehicle and taken to Lurgan Custody Suite without any further problems.

Defence barrister Conor Coulter stated Reilly “suffered health difficulties shortly before this incident” which included surgery on his neck.

He added that on that night the defendant had consumed his “full medication along with alcohol”.

District Judge Paul Copeland said: “This is well within your character, but I accept your plea and that you lost the run of yourself and this had cost you a week in jail.”

Reilly was ordered to pay a fine of £100, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 10 weeks.

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