A RETIRED teacher, who told police to “stick it up your a**e” after he was arrested for punching an officer, has been ordered to pay £200 compensation to his victim.

Anthony Treacy (60), of Boho Road, Enniskillen, lashed out as he was being taken into custody following his detention for drink-driving on June 1 this year, Fermanagh Magistrates Court heard.

Treacy entered guilty pleas to driving whilst unfit and assaulting a police officer when he appeared before the court in Enniskillen on Monday.

The court heard that, at 5.20pm, police observed the defendant’s vehicle weaving across the Boho Road. After he was stopped and exited the vehicle, officers noted that he was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and his speech slurred.

As Treacy was subsequently being conveyed into custody, he punched the driver of the police vehicle. His victim suffered from “stiffness” to the shoulder on the following day, the court heard.

When the defendant was further arrested for assaulting the police officer, he replied: “Stick it up your a**e.” Upon arrival at Enniskillen custody suite, Treacy was further aggressive towards the same officer, striking him on the right shoulder with force.

An evidential breath test was attempted, but the reading was not completed. The first reading obtained was 112 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath – 77 micrograms in excess of the legal limit.

Defending counsel, Heather Phillips, told the court that her client was a retired teacher and farmer who had no previous convictions or driving endorsements.

The barrister said that the incident had occurred several days after Treacy’s daughter was married and admitted that the celebrations had been “ongoing”.

Ms Phillips said that, on the day in question, the defendant had received a call that some of his animals were in distress and he went to tend to them. She added that he “very much” regretted his decision and conceded that his judgement “wasn’t what it should have been”.

The barrister also said her client was “very regretful” over the punch to the driver in the police vehicle. She claimed that Treacy had been anxious about his animals and was “trying to get the driver’s attention”.

In mitigation, Ms Phillips told the court that the defendant was “apologetic” for his actions, and stressed that he was not a violent man. She urged the judge to deal with him as leniently as possible.

District judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that it was “bad enough” that the defendant had been over the drink-driving limit, but added that punching the police officer had been “totally unacceptable” and had aggravated the offence.

The judge fined Treacy £250, ordered him to pay a £15 offender levy and imposed an 18-month disqualification for driving whilst unfit. He will also remain disqualified until re-tested.

Mr Broderick then fined the defendant a further £100 for assaulting the police officer and directed him to pay the £200 compensation.