A 34-YEAR-OLD man alleged to have racked up over £5,000 in unpaid bills at two hotels this summer had checked in to a third hotel on the day he was arrested, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

David Daly, who address was given as ‘no fixed abode’, but is from Swanlinbar in county Cavan, is charged with two counts of obtaining services dishonestly, by failing to pay for a hotel room and associated charges, from June 17 to September 2, 2017.

He is further charged with using a motor vehicle without insurance and driving without a licence at Forthill Street, Enniskillen on September 2, 2017.

Following his arrest last weekend, Daly was brought before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon for a bail application, which was opposed by the police.

Throughout the hearing, the defendant sat in the dock with his head in his hands.

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

Outlining the background to the case, the officer said that Daly is alleged to have stayed at the Valley Hotel in Fivemiletown between June 17 and August 18 this year, before checking out without settling his bill.

The policewoman claimed that the defendant had owed the Valley a total of £3,676.25.

She also told the court that the police were contacted by staff at the Enniskillen Hotel on September 2, and were informed that Daly had left without paying a bill of £2,032.95.

The staff informed officers that the defendant had stayed there from August 18 until September 2.

During police interview after his arrest, Daly insisted that he had paid the balance he owed to the Valley Hotel in full.

He also claimed to have paid cash to the staff at the Enniskillen Hotel.

Objecting to bail, the police officer told the court that the PSNI had concerns that the defendant would re-offend if released.

She revealed that he had checked into a third hotel, the Donn Carragh in Lisnaskea, on the day he was arrested.

The policewoman added that Daly was originally from Swanlinbar, outside the jurisdiction.

Dismissing concerns that his client posed a flight risk, defending solicitor Gary Black said his client had been released on police bail in June in connection with a separate matter, and had answered this bail on two or three occasions since.

The solicitor said that there was also a “further issue” in relation to the Enniskillen Hotel.

Mr. Black said that the defendant had actually checked out of the hotel for a short period to travel to Canada. He handed in boarding passes and luggage tags to the court as proof.

However, the solicitor alleged that the hotel were charging him for the 10-day period he was away.

At this point in the hearing, district judge Nigel Broderick, observed: “It’s all a bit bizarre, I have to say.”

After the judge raised concerns about the defendant’s health and presentation in court, he adjourned the case until yesterday (Wednesday) to allow the defence time to make “strenuous efforts” to obtain medical documents relating to Daly’s condition.

“If his diagnosis is as poor as it appears, I will take a sympathetic view,” the judge said.

However, Mr. Black told Fermanagh Magistrates Court last Wednesday morning that he had been unable to obtain the relevant documents.

Mr. Broderick decided to further adjourn the bail application until Monday, September 11.