A Lurgan man who launched sectarian insults at a cenotaph parade was charged with a sectarian hate crime today (Monday).
Lisburn Magistrates’ Court heard that on Saturday morning, a member of the public, who was at the parade at the cenotaph, contacted police to report how a man was shouting “up the ‘Ra” at those involved in the parade.
The man, the court heard, was also using a rolled up newspaper “making gestures as if aiming to shoot a gun”.
A police officer told the court that using a photograph taken by the witness, police were able to identify 37-year-old Michael McCreanor and they arrested him at 1am.
McCreanor, from Lavery Avenue in the town, appeared at court via videolink from police custody where he confirmed that he understood the four charges against him – doing a provocative act “namely shouted Orange bastards and sectarian insults towards the cenotaph and attending person with intent to provoke a breach of the peace” on August 8 along with assaulting and resisting police and using disorderly behaviour on August 9.
The court heard that the latter charges arose when officers tried to arrest McCreanor and he lashed out, trying to head butt one of the officers, shouting at them that they were “two black b*******” and having been taken to custody, kicked a sergeant in the stomach.
As well as shouting “SS RUC” an officer who said she was objecting to bail due to the risk of further offences and the “sectarian hate crime element” to the offences, claimed McCreanor said he “hated these orange b******* marching around” while in police custody.
Defence solicitor Neil Manley said the large majority of McCreanor’s convictions and problems stemmed from his alcohol addiction, submitting that despite the fact that he’s on for drink driving, he could be freed again to live with his mother.
Freeing McCreanor on his own bail of £500 with a surety of £500, District Judge Rosie Watters barred him from drinking alcohol and adjourned the case to September 3.
