Austin Irving released on bail - JamaicaObserver.com

Saturday, November 21, 2009 11:05 AM

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Austin Irving released on bail

BY PAUL A REID Observer West writer

Thursday, October 29, 2009

MONTEGO BAY, St James - Austin Irving, a well-known character on Montego Bay's Hip Strip on Gloucester Avenue, was on Monday offered bail after spending 11 days locked up.

Irving, who is charged with assaulting a member of the Tourism Courtesy Corps earlier this month, was given a stern warning by Acting Senior Resident Magistrate Vivienne Harris, on appearing in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrates Court.

"If you think you bad, interfere with one more of the officers again."

Irving was offered bail in the sum of $15,000 with surety and is to return to court on November 9 when the charges against him will be mentioned.

The judge also instructed the officers to be on the lookout for Irving, whom the court heard was one of the known "tourist harassers" on the hip strip.

In his previous appearance in court, Irving had pleaded for bail but was denied by RM Sandria Wong Small who told him then, "You coulda beg till Kingdom come, it won't help".

He had pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge but after denying even touching the officer, RM Wong Small rejected his plea and told him to plead not guilty.

The allegations are that on October 9 Irving interfered with the officers as they were arresting another man, threatened one of them with a piece of steel and used it to stab at a female officer.

It was heard he also attacked one male officer telling him "We ago stop all a unnu from come bout yah. Unnu a try stop man (expletives) food".

Irving told the court he was going towards a stall owned by his cousin in the Fantasy Craft Market when he saw the officers manhandling another man and he called out to them and asked them to take it easy on the man.

He told then court that he was advised by the officers that he was obstructing justice and that they would lock him up.