Ballymena: Police officer charged with assault and drink driving

The charges arise from an alleged incident at the Galgorm Hotel, near Ballymena, on 22 September.

A serving police officer has been charged with assault and drink driving following an alleged incident at a County Antrim hotel.

The 30-year-old faces a total of six charges arising from the alleged incident at Galgorm Hotel, near Ballymena, on 22 September.

The officer, whose address was given as c/o PSNI Brooklyn, Knock Road in Belfast, was off-duty at the time.

A police officer said she could connect the defendant to the charges.

The officer faces four charges of common assault on two men and two women, using disorderly behaviour in licensed premises and driving with excess alcohol on the Fenaghy Road in Cullybackey.

'Interim order'

Defence counsel told the court he intended to apply for an anonymity order in respect of the officer's identity, adding that a senior officer would give evidence to support the application, but that officer was not available on Thursday.

Representatives of the media stressed that the press were objecting to the application.

Defence counsel suggested an interim reporting restriction and an adjournment for the issue to be argued and adjudicated upon.

A prosecuting lawyer asked for the case to be adjourned for a month.

The judge said: "I'm going to adopt a holding position in so far that without prejudice, and this does not determine the application, but I will make an interim anonymity order under article two right to life."

The case was adjourned to 26 October.