A 52-YEAR-OLD man who allegedly attempted to rob a heavily-pregnant woman of her purse while she was using a bank machine in Enniskillen has been refused bail.

Kieran Brendan Anthony Kelly, of Derrin Park, Enniskillen, is charged with unlawfully assaulting the woman and further charges of attempting to steal and attempting to rob her purse on May 14 this year.

Kelly was led into the dock at Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday morning for a bail application in his case, which was opposed by the police.

A PSNI officer told the court that she believed she could connect the defendant to the charges against him.

Outlining the background to the case, she told the court that, at 11.28am on Saturday, the alleged injury party was using the cash machine outside the First Trust bank, near the Bush Bar in Enniskillen.

The woman told police that a man approached her and pulled at her handbag “with force” as she was withdrawing money in an attempt to get her purse. She further alleged that he had struck her right arm with a closed fist, before holding up his fist in a “threatening manner”.

The alleged injury party had “feared for her own safety and the safety of her unborn child” as a result of the incident, the police officer told the court.

The woman had then phoned the PSNI with a description of her alleged assailant, who had walked off. The defendant was arrested a short time afterwards.

Kelly informed officers that he couldn’t remember a thing. He told them that he had left his home earlier that morning to go to the off-licence.

Officers noted that the defendant was “extremely intoxicated” and slurring his speech so badly that they couldn’t understand what he was saying, the court heard.

Objecting to bail, the PSNI officer told the court that the defendant had 250 previous convictions and there was a risk of further offences being committed if he was released.

After district judge Nigel Broderick observed that the defendant had lived a “nomadic lifestyle” with previous convictions from various courts across Northern Ireland, defending solicitor Barry Lynam said his client had nothing on his record in this calendar year.

Mr Lynam said that the “most serious” charge against the defendant on this occasion was attempted robbery, an offence for which Kelly did not have a previous entry.

The solicitor said the court was dealing with someone who had 250 previous convictions, but nothing for attempted robbery, adding that this was one of the “limited positives” he could say.

Mr Lynam said the defendant did not know the alleged injured party, so the there was no risk of interference with witnesses.

He added that his client was a “chronic alcoholic” with mental health issues.

Refusing bail, district judge Mr Broderick observed that the defendant had an “atrocious” record and was facing a serious allegation.

The judge told the court that there was a “real and present risk” of further offences.

District Judge Mr Broderick remanded the defendant in custody to appear before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday, June 13, via videolink from Maghaberry prison.