Northern Ireland

Pair "not just bigots but stupid bigots" for Salvation Army abuse

Judge says Salvation Army do "tremendous good" for both sides of the community and would help anyone in need
Judge says Salvation Army do "tremendous good" for both sides of the community and would help anyone in need Judge says Salvation Army do "tremendous good" for both sides of the community and would help anyone in need

TWO men who shouted sectarian abuse at a Salvation Army parade in Derry were told by a judge that they were "not just bigots but stupid bigots".

Stephen O'Reilly (20) of 53 Bloomfield Park in the city was charged with disorderly behaviour, assaulting and resisting police on June 6.

Lee Coyle (19) of 59 Bloomfield Park was charged with similar offences on the same date.

The court was told that, as a Salvation Army parade took place in the Diamond area, Coyle was seen standing in the middle of the road shouting "Orange b------s'".

He refused to move and when police tried to reason with him he pushed a female officer in the chest during a struggle.

The court heard the band of the Salvation Army was forced to cut short their performance by O'Reilly who tried to assault members and also shouted sectarian abuse and "F--k the PSNI".

The court was told there was a large crowd of shoppers in the area.

His defence barrister, Eoghain Devlin , said it was hard to think of another incidence of such "ignorance and stupidity" and the court was "not only dealing with two stupid individuals but two who had not taken the time to notice the make up of our society".

He said O'Reilly, for reasons known only to himself, had stopped taking his medication and taken alcohol.

Stephen Mooney, counsel for Coyle, said it was "drunken, obnoxious behaviour" and the Salvation Army made for a very soft target.

He said the incident was "unpleasant for shoppers".

District Judge Barney McElholm said the Salvation Army do "tremendous good" for both sides of the community and would help anyone in need.

"The idea that good people like that were subjected to this gross, vile, sectarian abuse should fill anyone with horror."

He told both men that they deserved to go straight to prison and adjourned the case until November 30 when both men were told to come to court with £250 each for the Salvation Army or face jail.