Derry Court: Man (24) remanded after 'waving a knife' in city centre block of flats

A man who is accused of waving a knife around in a communal area of a block of flats has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today.

Caolan Stephens (24) of Bayview Terrace in Derry appeared charged with possessing an offensive weapon namely a knife on April 23.

He was also charged with criminal damage to a door, assault on a male, intending to cause grievous bodily harm and disorderly behaviour in Altnagelvin Hospital again on the same date. 

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. 

He tokd the court police received a report on a male brandishing a knife in Bayview Terrace. 

A woman told police that Stephens had tried to stab her with a kitchen knife.

The woman said that her boyfriend and herself and tried to close the door to get away from the defendant and he had stabbed the knife into the door. 

Another witness said he had tried to help the defendant and he had 'become aggressive' and was waving the knife about aggressively.

After Stephens left the building he collapsed and had to be taken to Altnagelvin Hospital. 

There he swore at police. 

At interview the defendant said he had been waving the knife at shadows. 

Bail was opposed as the defendant is seen as 'a danger to himself'.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that this was 'clearly a frightening incident' for those involved.

He said thankfully no one had been injured in the incident. 

The solicitor said his client 'deeply regretted' what had occurred and asked for bail to an address approved by the PSNI.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that any address would have to be far away from the city. 

He said he was not minded to grant bail at this stage. 

Stephens will appear again on May 18.