Man accused delivery man of leaving parcel at 'IRA Post Office'

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A court has heard that a 62 year-old man, who assaulted a delivery man after he left a parcel at what he called an ‘IRA Post Office,’ that he ‘goes up like a bottle of pop’.

Alex Williamson, of Carhill Road, Swatragh, appeared before Magherafelt Magistrates Court this morning charged with common assault.

The court heard that on February 12, police received a report that a Parcel Force delivery driver had been assaulted while delivering a parcel to an address in Swatragh.

The occupier started shouting verbal abuse to the diver about the delivery of a previous parcel which he had left at a Post Office.

As the delivery man waited for a signature, the man continued to shout abuse.

He told him was a ‘stupid b*****d for leaving the parcel at an IRA Post Office’, the court heard.

Williamson continued to shout abuse at the victim, before ‘frogmarching’ him to his delivery van. The defendant then slammed the door on the victim causing bruising to his shin and a cut to his index finger.

Commenting on the case, District Judge Alan White said: “This was bizarre behaviour.”

A defence solicitor told the court that the defendant had ‘felt embattled by his religion’.

He said: “This was a display by over-the-top bad temper. I have known this man for a number of years and his actions was totally out of character.

“He can’t control his temper, he goes up like a bottle of pop,” said the solicitor.

Addressing the defendant, District Judge Alan White said: “You should never have subjected this man to this abuse.’

Judge White fined him £150 and ordered him to pay £150 compensation to the injured party.

“Keep your temper and try and live out the rest of your days in peace,” said Judge White.