Officer accused of assault 'shrugged' colleagues off, court hears

A drunk off-duty police officer who allegedly assaulted two colleagues at a wedding told interviewing officers he "shrugged" them off, a court heard.

Transcripts of Constable Marcus Brush’s police interviews were read out at Coleraine Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old, whose address is given as c/o PSNI Brooklyn, knock Road in Belfast, faces charges of common assault of the two men.

He claimed his colleagues had their "hands on him" as they escorted him back to his Galgorm hotel room when he "shrugged" his arms away.

Mr Brush also faces charges of driving with excess alcohol on the Fenaghy Road in Cullybackey and being in charge of a vehicle in the carpark of the Galgorm Manor Hotel at a time he was over the drink drive limit on 21 and 22 September last year.

Initially, Mr Brush had also been charged with two further counts of common assault and using disorderly behaviour, but those charges were withdrawn by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

Mr Brush said he "did not strike out" at his colleagues, insisting "it was more of a 'right lads, get off my arm, you don’t need to hold it' so it was me trying to shake them off”, according to police transcripts.

The court heard how Mr Brush was interviewed under caution, and during the police questioning, he denied assaulting the men.

The trial continues.