A man accused of assaulting a man with the mental age of a five-year-old in an Enniskillen bar was refused compassionate bail to attend a Month’s Mind Mass.

Michael John Kieran Reilly (45), with an address of Silverstream, Derrylin, is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, possession of a Class-C controlled drug, namely suspected Diazepam, wounding with intent to do GBH, two counts of criminal damage and obstructing police in relation to an incident in Granny Annies bar on April 8.

A police officer detailed to Enniskillen Magistrates Court last Monday, April 29 how on the day in question the injured party was struck twice to the face with a glass following a disagreement.

A description of the alleged offender was given to police and how he had got into a taxi after leaving the bar, the court heard.

Police spoke to the taxi company who provided them with an address in Lisnaskea, where the male matching the description was located.

The male was searched, and yellow tablets were found, while clothes belonging to the alleged offender were found in a bin bag with bloodstains on them and there was also a strong smell of bleach.

Reilly refused to co-operate with police and had initially given a wrong name.

Police spoke to the victim, who has the mental age of a five-year-old, and said he was violently attacked. It left him with 21 stitches, a suspected broken nose and damage to dentures in his mouth.

Objecting to bail, the officer said Reilly had completely obstructed the investigation and raised concerns that he was a flight risk if released.

She said Reilly had 120 convictions in Northern Ireland, and had an extensive history of breaching bail.

Continuing, they said Reilly was unlikely to adhere to bail conditions, and had a “total disregard” for the justice system.

Reilly’s solicitor, Oliver Roche, said the reasons given by the officer were more appropriate to a full bail hearing rather than compassionate bail such as this when Reilly would be out of prison for a number of hours.

However, Deputy District Judge Liam McStay said he was conscious the application was for a Month’s Mind Mass, and not a funeral, in which Reilly would be in the company of his family.

He also agreed that the outlined reasons were more relevant to a full bail application, but said it was also relevant whether this man would comply with the conditions of compassionate bail.

Judge McStay added he was “wholly unimpressed” Reilly would comply, saying he was a high risk not to return to custody, and accordingly he refused the application.

The case was adjourned until May 22.