Man in court after setting off a blue flare in the middle of a band parade
A court has heard how a man set off a blue flare while walking in the middle of a band parade in Ballymena.
Sam Robinson (29), with an address listed as Calvin Street in Belfast, pleaded guilty to being disorderly in Ballymena on Saturday May 17 this year.
He also admitted resisting a police officer and using a blue flare without a licence.
A prosecutor told Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena, the defendant was at a band parade and around 8.30pm he walked onto Galgorm Road with a blue flare. He was waving it in the air and shouting.
The prosecutor said members of the public, including children, were troubled with the blue smoke "being set off in their faces".
The defendant was walking in between moving bands and the smoke was "obstructing their view of the road".
He was escorted off the road. He was shouting and despite being told to lower his voice continued to do so.
He was arrested and escorted away. He then dropped to the ground and refused to stand up. He began shouting "spray me, spray me”.
Police made attempts to get him to stand him up but he resisted and pulled away. He shouted: "Watch, I will destroy yous". He then attempted several times to bang his head off ground and a nearby wall.
The defendant swore and shouted in the street while waiting for cell van and once placed inside he banged his head off the walls.
The defendant had 156 previous convictions. The court was told he is a registered alcoholic and is engaging with a Community Addictions Team.
The lawyer said the defendant had a bail address at Spence Crescent in Cullybackey.
The barrister said the defendant was there to support the parade and purchased a blue flare from a stall which was located just outside the police station and he did not appreciate the possession of it was illegal.
The lawyer said his client said a number of people bought and set off flares but Robinson was the one who was apprehended "probably because he was causing the most disruption and walking in the middle of the band parade".
He said the defendant has "mental health problems".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant's record was "appalling". Sentencing was adjourned to September 9.