A 40-YEAR-OLD man accused of attacking two people with a shovel has failed in a bid to return to live at his home address while the case is ongoing, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Ronan Lunney, of Foxhill Close, Enniskillen, is charged with possessing an offensive weapon, namely a shovel, with intent to commit an indictable offence, damaging a door, entering an address at Foxhill Close with intent to commit grievous bodily harm (GBH), two counts of unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm and making threats to kill on October 7, 2017.

Lunney is currently on bail in connection with these alleged offences and living at an address in another part of Enniskillen.

Appearing before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday, he applied to have his bail conditions varied to allow him to return home.

The PSNI strongly objected to this variation.

A police officer told the court that they believed the defendant’s home address was “unsuitable”, due to the close proximity to the alleged injured parties and other witnesses.

The officer said that Lunney is alleged to have assaulted two victims, a man and a woman, with a shovel.

One of the victims is alleged to have sustained a fractured jaw, the court heard.

The officer also said that the defendant had made a counter-allegation.

Making the application to vary bail, defence counsel, Steffan Rafferty, told the court that his client was currently living with his ex-partner’s mother, who had been “very gracious” in granting that address.

However, the barrister said that the dynamics of the relationship had changed and it was “not the most suitable address to be at”.

Mr. Rafferty also said that the alleged incident had occurred four months ago and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) was still waiting for the PSNI to submit a full file. The barrister insisted that his client had “no intention” of coming into contact with his alleged victims.

“He doesn’t want to engage with these people at all,” Mr. Rafferty said.

Deputy district judge, Paul Conway, observed that the bail condition in question had been put in place to protect the complainants against potential further offences and interference.

“That risk is still present four months later,” the judge said.

Refusing to vary bail, Mr. Conway adjourned the case for two weeks until Monday, February 26.