Lawyer for Glasgow man William McGill – who has ‘colourful’ criminal record – blames epilepsy medicine and booze for disorderly conduct on Twelfth after he tried to start fights around Lisburn Road

William McGill received a four-month suspended sentence for his drink-fuelled outburst in the south of the city.

The 27-year-old, of Warriston Street in Glasgow, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour at his first appearance before Belfast Magistrates’ Court.

McGill was arrested on Tuesday by police alerted to a man dressed in shorts causing disturbances in the Malone Avenue area, off the Lisburn Road where the main parade passed by.

Prosecutors said he had been shouting and swearing, attempting to fight with multiple males in the street.

Defence lawyer Laura Jennings told the court McGill travels over annually for the Twelfth celebrations.

“He stays with friends in Belfast and has never got in trouble at parades before,” she said.

According to Ms Jennings her client suffers from epilepsy.

“He might have slightly overdone it on alcohol and, mixed with medication, that has caused him to act foolishly,” she added.

District Judge George Conner described McGill’s criminal record as “colourful”.

But giving him credit for the guilty plea, Mr Conner suspended the prison term for 18 months.

More from the News Letter:

Click here – Scarva: Royal Black leader invokes spirit of 1984 author George Orwell in call to ‘resist obliteration of history’

Click here – VIDEO: What’s the best thing about the Twelfth... and the worst? Belfast parade supporters have their say!

Click here – Former would-be killer and ex-junior IRA leader among those involved with Irish language group that has been promised £4m by the Tories

Click here – No pyre higher than Craigyhill bonfire: Towering Larne structure succeeds in beating Guinness world record