The BNCR signal cabin at Coleraine

Magistrates Court: Ballymena Man to pay £200 for Disorderly Conduct

Darach O'Mullan
read

Philip Owens, of Linehall Street Ballymena, has been ordered to pay £200 over a six-month
period in after being charged with Disorderly Conduct following an incident which occurred
on the Bushmills Road, Coleraine on 15th September 2020. District Judge Peter King had
presided over the case in North Antrim Magistrate’s Court, which is presiding in Ballymena
which was moved from Coleraine as a result of COVID-19. Mr Owens, 35, entered the
Magistrate’s Court with a plea of guilty. Mr Owens’ solicitor, John Murphy said, ““I
represent Mr Owens. He is pleading guilty. My client was drunk and cannot remember much
of the incident. However, he wishes to apologies to the police officers.”

According to the Crown Prosecution Service Solicitor, the incident had occurred around “tea time” on the night in question, and continued in saying “When police officers arrived, they saw Mr Owens
with a bottle of alcohol standing in the middle of the road and he was stopping cars from
entering Bushmills Road. Officers spoke to a very highly intoxicated Mr Owens and removed
him from the road. The defendant initially refused to identify himself to police and when
arrested he continued to be disorderly on the way to Coleraine Police Station. This involved
shouting and screaming in the police vehicle and constantly trying to get out. It did not
involve any assault of the police officers. He calmed down when he reached the police
station.” The Crown Prosecution Service Solicitor had further stated that the police had
contacted the staff of the off licence on the Bushmills Road who further claimed that Mr Owens was verbally abusive and caused disturbance after the staff had refused to serve Mr
Owens.

According to the Prosecution, Mr Owens had left the staff traumatised by the
experience and that Mr Owens had left the off licence after making the staff feel “very
intimated by him and were very upset.” After leaving the off licence, Mr Owens is stated to
have gone onto the Bushmills Road and proceeded to cause further disturbance by standing in
the middle of the road and causing vehicles along the road to come to a halt. The disturbance
had resulted in the police being called to the scene more than fifteen minutes after the
incident had occurred. The defendant initially refused to provide identification to the police
and was taken to Coleraine Police Station.

The Crown Prosecution Service Solicitor had concluded their statement in saying that Mr Owens had “posed a danger to both himself and other road users.” Mr Owens’ solicitor, Mr Murphy, continued in saying “My client wishes to apologise for his behaviour.” District Judge Peter King had subsequently asked Mr Owens’ solicitor if Mr Owens had anything prior on his record, to which the Crown Prosecution Service Solicitor said, “Nothing recent on his file. No previous convictions.” The case was
concluded at which time District Judge King said, “I impose a £200 fine with six months to
pay. Do not let this happen again Mr Owens.”

Author profile
Darach O'Mullan
Author stories