Man branded social distancing post and tried to bite police

A shop customer who brandished a security post set up for social distancing and tried to bite police officers has been jailed for five months.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th May 2020, 17:54 BST
Pacemaker Press 22/5/2013 Laganside Court Building in Belfast City centre Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerPacemaker Press 22/5/2013 Laganside Court Building in Belfast City centre Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Pacemaker Press 22/5/2013 Laganside Court Building in Belfast City centre Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Declan McKernan threatened one constable called to the Eurospar in west Belfast by telling him: “I will take your f****** head off.”

The 32-year-old, of Beechmount Parade in the city, admitted three assaults on police, disorderly behaviour, common assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

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Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard he had been acting aggressively and shouting at staff outside the Springfield Road shop on March 31.

CCTV footage showed him lift a post set up to encourage social distancing and use it as a weapon to frighten people away from him.

He was said to have assaulted a security guard preventing him from entering due to his actions. While being detained McKernan opened his mouth, baring his teeth at a constable who believed he was going to be bitten.

He then stated: “When I get these handcuffs off I will take your f****** head off.”

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McKernan continued to direct verbal abuse at officers, the court heard, trying to bite one of them on the hands and fingers.

In a separate case, he also pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour, possessing class C drugs, attempted assault occasioning actual bodily harm to another policeman and criminal damage to his glasses.

Those offences relate to an incident in the Thames Court area of Belfast on April 23. Prosecutors said he attempted to bite the officer and spat at him after being arrested.

Judge George Conner declared: “I’m compelled to impose immediate custody.”