A man charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of causing grievous bodily harm in relation to a stabbing incident in Lisnaskea has had a bail application denied.

Brendan Martin Gerard McLaughlin (26), of Tempo Road, Tempo, appeared at Fermanagh Court on Monday via videolink from Maghaberry prison.

The court heard that McLaughlin had been granted bail on December 27 but breached his alcohol and curfew conditions one month later. Defence counsel Alan Blackburn said McLaughlin was drinking because he had received “a very emotional phone call from [his partner] about their child which was going to be taken into care.”

Appealing for bail, Mr. Blackburn said: “The chances of a trial [in relation to the Lisnaskea stabbing] before the summer are negligible.” He said McLaughlin’s mother was in court with a cash surety of £1,000 and that McLaughlin had “learned a sharp lesson” from his spell in prison. He added that McLaughlin is “entitled to the presumption of innocence.”

A police officer told the court that McLaughlin showed “a blatant disregard for the bail conditions” and said that police believe he may reoffend if granted bail.

Mr. Blackburn outlined that McLaughlin was re-arraigned on March 15 on a number of driving offences – including theft of a vehicle, dangerous driving and aggravated taking of a vehicle and causing injury – and is due to be sentenced on April 27. He also faces a separate charge of disorderly behaviour.

Denying bail, District Judge Nigel Broderick stated: “This defendant was re-arraigned in the Crown Court for potentially serious offences. I’m not satisfied that, with a Crown Court sentence remaining outstanding, there has been a change in circumstances. I feel that there is a risk of reoffending and not adhering to bail conditions.”