A banned driver who spat blood in the face of police after he was arrested for driving whilst disqualified was today refused bail.
And as Darren McGrath was being led in handcuffs to the cells, he launched a foul-mouthed tirade against Judge Gordon Kerr KC.
The 29-year-old, of no fixed abode in West Belfast, was recently returned to Belfast Crown Court and will be arraigned next month on a total of 11 charges.
He faces four counts of fraud by false representation, aggravated vehicle taking causing damage and two counts of possessing Class C drugs. McGrath is also accused of driving whilst disqualified, two counts of assault on police and resisting police.
Prosecution lawyer Samantha Madden said on Sunday, June 23, 2024, a woman was at home with her niece and the defendant. When she got up the next morning at 6.20am both had gone and her blue Kia Sportage was missing. She went to a local shop to buy some goods using her phone but it was declined.
"She contacted her bank who told her that her card, which was in her car, had been used on four occasions totalling £72.20p,'' explained Ms Madden.
Police received a report of a blue Kia Sportage being "driven erratically'' in Belfast which had collided with a car.
"Several members of the public were out on the street who told police McGrath was the driver of the vehicle,'' said Ms Madden.
"Police located the car along with the defendant and a co-accused nearby and were detained.
"The defendant became violent towards police and was bleeding from an injury to his head. He spat blood into the face and eyes of one constable and he then resisted police.
"Emergency assistance was required and it took six police officers to bring the defendant under control. More officers were required as the co-accused tried to intervene in the arrest.''
During a search of McGrath, police recovered a number of Class C tablets. Checks revealed he had been disqualified from driving for five years in October 2019.
Said Ms Madden: "Objections to bail are the risk of reoffending. He has 101 convictions, which include 34 road traffic matters, a number of assaults on police and police have no confidence that he would refrain from reoffending if bail was granted.
"There are also 19 previous bench warrants which shows a propensity for failing to attend court which is a cause for concern.''
Defence barrister Sean O'Hare said the defendant's mother had now moved away from West Belfast to south Down.
"She has offered this as a suitable bail address which would take the defendant away from negative peer influences which were the trigger for his offending,'' said Mr O'Hare.
"She imposes her own house rules and she will be stricter than anything Your Honour would put in place. If he was to misbehave on bail she would have no hesitation in phoning the police.''
Judge Kerr said his main concern was that McGrath would reoffend if released on bail. He added: "The nature of these charges are charges he has a great history for. He has 12 previous convictions for assault on police. This case involves driving whilst disqualified and he has convictions for these.
"I consider the risk of reoffending is too high and I refuse bail for that reason.''
It was at this point both the defendant and a male relative in the public gallery started hurling offensive abuse at the judge before they were quickly escorted out of court by prison staff and a security guard.
English (United States) ·