A 32-year-old Lurgan man shouted at a support worker who was walking to work in the town: “Black b*****d. Go back to where you came from.”
Kyle Best, with an address listed as Praxis at Castle Lane Court in Lurgan, admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour arising out of the incident on July 1, 2024
Craigavon Magistrates’ Court was told the man was walking at Castle Lane when the defendant shouted at him.
In another incident, on September 20 last year, Best assaulted and resisted a police officer.
On September 25 last year the defendant assaulted a man and caused criminal damage at Praxis Care in Lurgan, where he had thrown items including a chair and a fan. He attempted to damage a keyboard, fridge and toaster.
A defence barrister said the “language used” by the defendant was an aggravating feature in the July 1 incident.
Rather than “underlying racism”, he said it was “more likely to come about as a result of him losing his temper, something which he is prone to do”.
He said the defendant taking drink “clearly doesn’t agree with his underlying diagnoses and medication” and alcohol was involved in all the incidents.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he would defer sentencing until April next year to see if the defendant could stay out of trouble. Best also has to fully engage with support he is getting.
If not, he faces being jailed for at least a year, said the judge.
The case was adjourned to April 10 next year.
