{
  "id": 13122928,
  "title": "Man threw bottle at PSNI over alcohol disruption - court",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/man-threw-bottle-at-psni-over-alcohol-disruption-court",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T13:21:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2026/1009/1594737-malachy-mccann-court/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On 27th September, Malachy McCann, a 28-year-old man from Portadown, Co Armagh, threw a bottle at a PSNI Land Rover on the Garvaghy Road due to his inability to reach an off licence for more alcohol. McCann appeared in Craigavon Magistrates Court via video link from prison, where District Judge Michael Ranaghan sentenced him to six months in total. He handed down a three-month sentence for the Garvaghy Road incident and activated a previously suspended three-month sentence, which were to be served consecutively. The judge emphasized that while the court is not overly concerned about political matters, McCann's attitude towards the police is a significant concern. McCann pleaded guilty to using disorderly behavior on the Garvaghy Road and attempting to cause criminal damage to the PSNI Land Rover. The prosecutor recounted the incident, stating that it occurred around 4:30 pm on Sunday when police footage captured McCann approaching the police Land Rover, throwing a bottle, and then being pulled back by others in the crowd. McCann's defense lawyer, Joel Lindsay, argued that McCann was remorseful and had consumed drugs and alcohol at the time of the incident. The judge revealed that McCann had seven previous convictions for assaulting police, and emphasized that the court cannot tolerate such behavior.",
  "summary": "A man who threw a bottle at a PSNI Land Rover on the Garvaghy Road, \"out of frustration\" because he could not get to the off licence, has been handed jail sentences totalling six months.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malachy McCann, 28, threw a bottle at a PSNI Land Rover on Garvaghy Road.",
    "McCann sentenced to six months total, including three months for the incident.",
    "Judge noted McCann's attitude towards police is a significant concern."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}