'˜Delirious and hallucinating' Maghera man thought police were going to murder him

A man believed police officers who came to help him were going to murder him, Magherafelt Magistrates Court was told.
Magherafelt courthouseMagherafelt courthouse
Magherafelt courthouse

Before the court was Jordon Benjamin McAuley (23), whose address was given as King William III Crescent, admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour.

District Judge Alan White adjourned the case until March 2 for a pre-sentence report.

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The court heard McAuley was “delirious and hallucinating” at the time police went to his assistance at O’Hara Road in Maghera.

A prosecuting lawyer said at 1.40am on September 3, police were alerted to a man in a drunken state on the O’Hara Road.

She said police officers attended the area and located the defendant who was “staggering about and shouting loudly”.

The barrister said when officers approached him, he became extremely aggressive and started screaming and shouting that police were going to murder him.

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She said McAuley then attempted to run on to the Coleraine Road but was restrained for his own safety.

A defence lawyer said McAuley had taken to drinking after being informed by social services that he was losing access to his child.

“As a result he ended up in the state that he was in. He was delirious and was hallucinating. He didn’t know what he was doing,” the solicitor continued.

He explained that the defendant had been living in Maghera but had since moved to his mother’s house in Ballymena.

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“He now has contact with his child through social services on a weekly basis,” he added.

He pointed out that the defendant has taken no drink or drugs since the incident.

Judge White said he was ordering a report to help McAuley get on back on the straight and narrow.

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