Handcuffed man ran from police

Handcuffed man ran from police

16 March 2016

A MAN who attacked a police officer before running off while handcuffed, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Twenty three year-old Andrew Aaron McAllister appeared at Downpatrick Court this week and admitted assault on police, obstruction, resisting arrest and disorderly behaviour.

A prosecution lawyer said police were dealing with a fight outside a Main Street bar on Christmas Eve when a a second fight broke out nearby in which McAllister was involved.

When police tried to stop this fight, he struggled and resisted police. During the struggle, McAllister and a policeman fell into the middle of Main Street in the path of traffic.

McAllister kicked the policeman on the legs, while a large crowd gathered and encouraged him to resist arrest. 

It was “a very difficult situation” for police as they were surrounded by this crowd, the lawyer said.

Police eventually were able to handcuff McAllister and put him in the back of the police vehicle, but he soon ran off while still handcuffed. Police found McAllister about an hour later on the Newcastle promenade.

A defence barrister told the court McAllister had taken a lot of drink on the night in question.

 “It’s unedifying, it’s disgraceful and he is ashamed to be here,” he said.

“He has very, very little memory of what happened at the time and it is indicative of how much alcohol he had consumed.”

District Judge Mr Peter King said the potential for “serious” disorder that night was “significant” and it was lucky the “hostile and drunken crowd” did not turn into anything more dangerous. 

He sentenced McAllister, of Hazelbank Drive, Kilkeel to a total of three months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

“If you are tempted at any public holiday to repeat this, you have three months [in custody] already hanging over your head,” Mr King told the defendant.