Rostrevor man charged with harassment at Centre gets a taste of prison

A 55-year-old Rostrevor man who faces five charges relating to harassment of staff at the Arc Centre in Bessbrook was sent to the Court prison cell for a period Friday morning to give him a taste of what it would be like to be behind bars.

Before the Court was Rory O’Hanlon, from Cloughmore Park, who faces a further five charges of conveying messages which were indecent or grossly offensive to staff.

The alleged offences took place between July and October of this year.

A police constable told the Court that he believed that he could connect the defendant to the charges before the Court.

Whilst the police officer indicated that he had no objection to the bail conditions O’Hanlon was presently under, Judge Eamonn King said that as far as he was concerned, he had run out of road’ in dealing with the defendant.

Sending O’Hanlon to the police cell, Judge King said: “The sad truth of the matter is that you (O’Hanlon) are too frequent a visitor to this court for similar offences. I have been here before and in the past been more than lenient.

“I have run out of road. Take him and lock him up.”

O’Hanlon appeared in the dock later in the day when Judge King did grant him but warned: “I’m telling you that if you appear before me again you will be locked up. I sent you down (to the prison cell) so that you could get a taste of what it would be like in Prison.”

O’Hanlon was released on his own bail of £350 to appear back in Court on December 8.

Two bail conditions were imposed.

He does not enter the Arc Centre in Bessbrook or try and make contact with any member of staff.