Derry man who punched female police officer fined

A Derry man who punched a female police officer in the face was fined at Limavady Magistrate’s Court this week.
Stephen Kelly (19) of 34, Bellevue Avenue n Derry admitted a series of public order offences which occurred on November 25 last.
The court was told that police on patrol in Catherine Street in Limavady came upon two males fighting, one of them was Kelly.
When they intervened to break up the fight Kelly punched the female officer in the face.
When he was arrested he struggled violently with police.
A defence solicitor said that Kelly had been out celebrating his birthday and had consumed a lot of alcohol.
He said his client had apologised for his actions.
Deputy District Judge Mervyn Bates said that he did not believe that the offence crossed the custody threshold and fined Kelly £150 and bound him over to be of good behaviour on his own recognisances of £500 for a period of 18 months.