A 26-YEAR-OLD man alleged to have repeatedly hit another man with a hurley stick during an incident in Lisnaskea in which three people were stabbed has been refused bail.
Peter Anthony Smith, of Sycamore Drive, Cavanaleck, Enniskillen, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Michael Fox with intent and entering a property in Trasna Way, Lisnaskea as a trespasser with intent to inflict GBH on October 8, 2016.
Smith, who has been in custody on remand since shortly after his arrest, appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon via videolink from Maghaberry prison.
A bail application mounted on behalf of the defendant by his solicitor, Clive Neville, was strongly opposed by the PSNI.
Outlining the background to the alleged incident, a policewoman told the court that, at 1.38am on October 8, police had received a report of a serious stabbing incident outside the home of Michael Fox in Trasna Way, Lisnaskea.
The three victims, including Mr Fox, were taken to South West Acute Hospital for treatment for their stab wounds. They are all now out of hospital.
The detective alleged that five people, including the defendant, had arrived outside the house in a red-coloured Renault Megane, which had been purchased on the Friday evening.
She told the court that the injured parties were having a few drinks inside the property when the living room window was smashed.
They claimed that the defendant, who was carrying a hurley stick, and a co-defendant, 26-year-old Brendan McLaughlin, of Tempo Road, Tempo, then entered the house through the smashed window.
The policewoman said that Michael Fox claimed that he escaped into the garden, but was followed by the defendant.
She said that Mr Fox alleged that Smith hit him on the back of the head with the hurley stick, causing him to fall to the ground.
It is further alleged that, while he was on the ground, the defendant continued to hit him with the hurley stick and his co-defendant, McLaughlin, stabbed him in the back and the side with a knife.
The detective told the court that other witnesses who had been at the house had identified the defendant as being involved in the alleged assault.
She claimed that the knife used in the assault had been removed from the scene by the suspects but was recovered by the police the following day and taken away for forensic examination.
She added that other weapons, including a blood-stained hurley stick, were recovered at the scene.
The police officer said that Smith had been arrested at his home address at 5am. A number of items of blood-stained clothing were removed following a search, she added.
During interview, the defendant alleged that he had received a call to come to a party at the house and had been invited in.
Making a counter-allegation, Smith said he was hurt upon entering and may have “swung back” once or twice in self-defence.
Opposing bail, the policewoman cited concerns that the defendant would commit further offences, might interfere with witnesses and would fail to turn up for future court hearings.
When questioned by the judge about whether a motive had been established for the alleged incident, the detective said that police were “not entirely sure” but believed that it could be in connection with Brendan McLaughlin’s current partner, who was previously involved with Michael Fox.
Applying for bail, Mr Neville told the court that the main incident in this case was the alleged stabbing and his client was facing separate charges.
The solicitor put it to the police officer that there was never any suggestion of Smith being involved in the stabbing, to which the detective replied: “That’s right.”
Mr Neville told the court that his client accepted that he had been in the house, but maintained that he went in through the door.
The solicitor said the defendant had agreed to hand over his passport and had a “modest” cash surety available.
He argued that the police concerns could be “considerably allayed” by the imposition of stringent bail conditions.
District judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that the defendant was allegedly involved in a “vicious and unwarranted attack” on somebody in his own home.
Describing the allegations against Smith as a “very serious matter”, the judge said he was “no stranger to the courts” and had previous convictions for violence throughout his record.
Ruling that it was “not appropriate” to grant the defendant bail due to the risk of further offending, Mr Broderick remanded him in custody and adjourned the case until Monday, November 7.