Behind bars ending to belated birthday bash

Drink went to a man's head when he belatedly celebrated his birthday upon his release from jail but ended up behind bars again after he threw a wine bottle at nightspot bouncers.

Russell Warren Cummins of James Street, Coleraine, was out in Portstewart on September 3 this year to mark his 28th birthday which occurred on August 15 when he was inside.

Cummins appeared via video link from Maghaberry jail at Coleraine Magistrates Court on Monday, November 14 and pleaded guilty to charges of being disorderly; assaulting two doorstaff; possession of a wine bottle as an offensive weapon and resisting a police officer. Threats to kill charges were withdrawn.

A prosecutor said police received a report a man had thrown a glass bottle at door staff at ‘Shenanigans’ after they refused him entry. He had to be pushed back and he shouted an insult at door staff before he grabbed a wine bottle and threw it at the bouncers from a distance of three metres but missed.

The bottle broke against a front door where a number of patrons were standing smoking. Cummins ran off and was pursued by staff. When police came he refused to be handcuffed and CS spray had to be used.

Defence solicitor John Murphy said his client’s birthday fell in August and in September he had just been released from prison after four and a half months and went out to belatedly celebrate turning 28.

Mr Murphy said because of the time inside his client did not have the same tolerance to alcohol which had “gone to his head very quickly” and because of his intoxication door staff would not let him in. The solicitor said his client had “little memory” of the incident.

District Judge Liam McNally said Cummins’ behaviour was “an appalling vista on the Promenade in Portstewart in early September” as he jailed him for five months.

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