A 23-YEAR-OLD man accused of breaking into a primary school and stealing over 30 iPads was granted permission to go on a friend’s stag do in Galway, despite police concerns that he posed a flight risk.

Dylan Stephen Douglas James Phair, of Castlebalfour Park, Lisnaskea, is charged with breaking into Moat Primary School and stealing 37 iPads inside, damaging windows at the school, damaging iPads belonging to the school and handling stolen goods on November 27, 2017.

Phair appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court last Wednesday seeking a relaxation of his bail conditions after being invited to a friend’s stag do in Galway for the weekend.

Defending counsel, Stephen Mooney, told the court that his client had a “peripheral role” in organising the weekend and didn’t know where they would be staying.

Mr. Mooney said that the defendant was prepared to lodge £200 in cash to alleviate any concerns about absconding.

However, the PSNI objected to the proposed bail variation.

An officer told the court that there were fears that Phair would pose a flight risk if his electronic tag was removed for the weekend.

The officer added that the defendant had yet to give a specific location for the stag do in Galway.

In reply, the barrister said he had tried to get that information from his client, but described him as “not particularly clued in”.

Mr. Mooney told the court it was “not particularly easy” to get information from him.

The PSNI officer agreed.

Describing Lisnaskea as not particularly far from the Border, the barrister claimed that if Phair had been “hell-bent on absconding” he would have done so by now.

Deputy district judge, Laura Ievers, observed that she understood the police concerns, but was prepared to take a chance with Mr. Phair.

The judge told the court that she would grant the bail variation, subject to the defendant handing in written verification of where he would be staying within 24 hours.

She also ordered him to report back to Lisnaskea police station upon his return on Sunday evening.