A JUDGE has said that "no sane or rational person" could try to blame police for the death of journalist Lyra McKee who was shot dead last month in Derry.
His comments came in the case against John Quigley (47) of Asylum Road in Derry who admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour on April 20, two days after the shooting.
Derry Magistrates Court was told that police were conducting an operation in connection with the attack when Quigley came out of a house and started shouting and swearing at police.
He was warned about his behaviour but continued over the next three hours shouting and swearing and being aggressive.
During the court hearing Quigley constantly interrupted shouting that what was being said was untrue.
At one stage Judge McElholm asked his lawyer if his client was definitely entering a guilty plea as it did not sound like it.
Desite this Quigley continued to interrupt proceedings and despite warning was placed in the cells before he apologised and was brought back into the dock.
The defence solicitor said that Quigley had been intoxicated on the date in question and accepted he was out of order.
Judge McElholm said Quigley would have "had to have been intoxicated" to blame the police for the shooting of the journalist.
He imposed a conditional discharge for two years and ordered Quigley to donate £350 to the charity Foyle Search and Rescue.
