A man, who appeared at Fermanagh Magistrates court this week, was granted a relaxation to his bail conditions with District Judge Michael Ranahan taking into consideration “certain circumstances” in the defendants private life.

Ryan Foley sought an altercation to his bail conditions so that be permitted to consume alcohol in his own home. The application was opposed by police.

Speaking on his client’s behalf, solicitor Gary Smyth, explained that Foely’s partner had recently suffered the loss of a new born infant.

Police objected to the change in bail conditions and told the court that in both this incident and previous incidents, where Foley was before the court, alcohol was a contributing factor.

The court heard that Foley is charged with, among other offences, aggravated burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and threats to kill.

It was alleged that in August of this year the defendant and another man, who is also before the court, broke into a house at 5am and set about the assault of an individual within that house.

Police said that in a statement from one of the injured parties it was alleged that Foley lunged and swiped at a man with a knife.

The court heard that the defendant had a very different version of events and that he told police that the injured party had been waiting for he and another man as they returned from the shop. Foley said in his statement to police that he had been attacked with a knife but had overpowered the attacker.

Mr. Smyth asked the police officer if it was true that one of the injured parties had withdrawn their statement to which the officer confirmed this was the case.

Mr Smyth stated that the defendant was “not without his difficulties” and had not breached any of the bail conditions since they were imposed in August of this year and that he was due credit to approaching this request in a forthright manner.

Mr. Ranahan in relaxing the bail conditions said that he was concerned that alcohol had been a factor in previous incidents but that he was taking into account what was “going on in the life” of Foley.

The Judge said that on balance the fact that the defendant would be before the court in relation to a preliminary enquiry in a week’s time meant he could “keep a tight eye” on the adherence to the new bail conditions.