ONE of the Guildford Four, Gerry Conlon, punched an RUC man in the face after police were called twice to a noisy party, Belfast Magistrates Court was told yesterday.
Conlon (43), of Osborne Park, Belfast, who was freed in 1989 after 15 years in prison, was bound over to keep the peace when he pleaded guilty to assault. A charge of breaching the peace was withdrawn.
A prosecution lawyer said the RUC was called to the party in the Lower Falls last June after neighbours complained about noise. "The music was turned down and the police left but they were called again and the whole party spilled out onto the street," said the lawyer.
She said the party-goers argued with the police and Conlon and a number of women were arrested. "It was while:
Conlon was waiting to be processed that he punched a reserve constable in the face," said the lawyer.
Outside the court Conlon said: "I very rarely come back here and rarely drink. It was one of those occasions when I met some old friends and had a drink. Hopefully this type of thing won't happen again."