Gilford man in court after bizarre incident

Two men who were involved in a ‘bizarre incident’ outside Lurgan were given suspended prison sentences last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

They were Connor Noel McGuinness (24), Georges Island Road, Aghalee, and Bernard Seamus Michael O’Hare (26), Castleview, Gilford.

They both admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour on the Gilford Road, Lurgan, on April 16 this year. McGuinness was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and O’Hare was given five months in custody, suspended for three years.

The court heard that at 9.30am police received a report of men attempting to flag down vehicles at Gibson’s Hill. It was also alleged stones were thrown at a mission hall and an Orange Hall.

Police saw the two defendants waving their hands in the air and dancing about on the roadside. A motorist said they had thrown stones at his vehicle as it was passing them.

The defendants tried to make off and hid in thick foliage. They were laughing and then they were abusive to police who warned them to moderate their language.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that pre-sentence reports could be obtained.