A FURTHER arrest warrant has been issued for a man charged with two counts of attempted murder in connection with a stabbing incident in Lisnaskea last October after he once again failed to turn up in court on Monday.
Defence counsel, Alan Blackburn, told Fermanagh Magistrates Court that police had yet to apprehend his client, 26-year-old Brendan Martin Gerard McLaughlin, of Tempo Road, Enniskillen.
The barrister added that the defendant’s girlfriend, who is also known to the court, had also “disappeared”.
McLaughlin is charged with attempting to murder Michael Fox and Conor McBarron and causing grievous bodily harm to Dylan Quaile, with intent, at a property in Trasna Way, Lisnaskea on October 8, 2016.
However, the defendant is also facing a series of charges in connection with other incidents, in separate cases that are before both Fermanagh Magistrates Court and Dungannon Crown Court.
A number of arrest warrants have already been issued for him after he failed to appear for scheduled hearings at both courts in recent weeks.
On Monday of this week, McLaughlin was due to appear before Fermanagh Magistrates Court in connection with using disorderly behaviour at Killymittan Road, Ballinamallard on August 4, 2016.
After he once again failed to show, defence barrister, Mr. Blackburn, conceded that a number of warrants had already been issued in connection with his client in recent weeks.
He told the court that the police had yet to apprehend McLaughlin, adding that the defendant’s girlfriend had also disappeared.
District judge, Nigel Broderick, then issued a further arrest warrant.
McLaughlin was initially remanded in custody after the incident in Lisnaskea in October 2016.
He was granted bail in December 2016, but breached his alcohol and curfew conditions in January 2017 and was remanded back in custody.
In March 2017, McLaughlin made a fresh bail application, which was refused at Fermanagh Magistrates Court.
The High Court later granted bail due to delays in the attempted murder case and the defendant was released again before Easter.
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