A 35-year-old man accused of attacking a care worker as she was putting his friend to bed has been remanded in custody.

Michael Reilly, of Lisgoole Park, Drumgallan, Enniskillen, also allegedly threatened to burn his friend's house down with his friend in it and burn the care worker's house down with her in it.

He appeared in the dock at Fermanagh Court charged with assaulting Paula Howe, occasioning the care worker actual bodily harm. He is further charged with threatening her that he would destroy two houses at Drumawill and Lisgoole Park in Enniskillen belonging to her and Conrad Howe.

Objecting to him being released on bail, a police officer told the court that on Saturday, February 23, Reilly had been at his friend's house. He left but returned as the care worker was assisting his friend to get into bed. She refused to let him in but he allegedly pushed past her before slapping her around the face. He then allegedly threatened the care worker that he would burn down his friend's house with his friend in it and her house with her in it.

A previous court had heard how Reilly was stabbed and beaten unconscious during a brawl at a wedding reception in a pub near Enniskillen last December. At the time he was on bail on seven charges including possession of a lock manipulation tool in connection with a burglary and setting fire to a house belonging to Rose McDonagh on June 12, last year, with intent to endanger her life.

He was further charged with having an offensive weapon, namely a pick axe handle, on the same date, and the aggravated burglary of a house at Woodburn Crescent, Dungannon, with the intention of inflicting grievous bodily harm on James Ward, Gerard McDonagh, Thomas McDonagh and Michael McDonagh.

Reilly was not charged with any offence arising out of the brawl at the wedding reception in Enniskillen in December. However, he was remanded in custody as he had breached his bail conditions in respect of the offences in June by being out after his curfew and drinking alcohol.

He had been re-admitted to bail and released from prison when he allegedly attacked the care worker in Enniskillen at the weekend.

Defence barrister Craig Patton said the offences outlined by the police officer in relation to the care worker were denied.

He said that on this occasion Reilly had a glass of wine and had an alcohol reading of 34.

District Judge Liam McNally remarked that it was a "big glass of wine".

He told Reilly he faced serious charges when he was released on bail on condition that he did not consume alcohol.

Remanding him in custody to appear at Fermanagh Court by video link from Maghaberry Prison on March 25, he said there was a strong prima facie case that Reilly had breached his bail.