A 33-year-old man from Anagh Coar who fought with his cousin in the street has been fined £300 for being drunk and disorderly.

Kristopher Coward, of Tramman Park, admitted the offence and was also banned from buying or being sold alcohol for three months.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court that police were called to Darragh Passage in Anagh Coar on June 5 at 8.30pm.

Numerous reports of a group of males arguing and fighting had been received.

A witness recorded some of the incident on video and Coward was said to have been seen pushing a man to the ground on two occasions.

He was said to be unsteady on his feet and holding a can.

Young children were said to have been present as the fracas took place.

Coward was subsequently arrested and told police: ’It was my family squabble Sarge, he was my cousin.’

Defence advocate David Clegg said that his client accepted he was under the influence of alcohol and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

The advocate said: ’Mr Coward would say, while out with a group his cousin was repeatedly using a racial slur about a footballer to wind him up. An argument ensued and he pushed his cousin.

’Perhaps if not in drink he wouldn’t have been so easy to wind up.’

Mr Clegg pointed out that it had been a family row and his client had not been aggressive to a stranger.

He continued: ’Mr Coward has been suffering from social anxiety since lockdown and a group of friends have been taking him out to deal with it. A ban from entering licensed premises would inhibit that and we would ask that any ban be limited to purchasing or being sold alcohol.’

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Coward: ’This was a disgraceful incident. Fighting and arguing in the presence of young children and you were clearly drunk, holding a can of alcohol at the time.

’I would suggest you keep your family squabbles private in future.

’There wasn’t much evidence of social anxiety during the fight you had with your family in the street.’

Coward was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs which he will pay, along with the fine, at a rate of £15 per week deducted from benefits.