Derry man remanded in custody on handgun possession and threats charges

A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with a number of offences, including possession of a handgun and a knife following an incident outside a house in Creggan.

Ryan Deery (32) of Ballymagowan Park in Derry was charged with, on October 22, making threats to kill, assaulting police, disorderly behavior, being in possession of a knife, threatening to damage property and failing to provide a breath specimen.

He was also charged with, on November 4, possession of a handgun, damaging an electrical box and obstruction of police.

It was claimed by the alleged injured party that, on November 4, two masked men had appeared at her house.

She claimed to have recognised the voice of one of them as Deery who raised his arm, showing was was thought to be a handgun and shouted at her.

It was alleged that he then pointed the gun at her and began shouting.

The defendant was said to have smashed his phone on the ground before being arrested and when interviewed by police, Deery claimed that he smashed his phone 'all the time'.

On October 22, police responded to a disturbance and were told Deery had been seen exiting a vehicle holding a knife and making threats.

He was said to be heavily intoxicated and two neighbours attempted to intervene.

Deery was said to have become aggressive when police attempted to stop and search him. Deery began spitting at them before it took five officers to carry him into a police vehicle.

While in custody, he continued shouting abuse at police and refused to give a breath sample.

Derry man (45) charged with two counts of assaulting police jailed

William Ireland (45) of Rock Mills in Derry was charged with the offences that occurred on July 16 this year after police found him drunk and attempted to help him

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Defence solicitor Derwin Harvey said that the alleged injured parties had been the agitators in the events in question, telling the court that they supposedly 'move from estate to estate and cause trouble'.

He said that Deery had been going to see the mother of his child and the alleged injured party claimed he had a knife on him before going inside and returning herself with a hammer.

He added that video did not show Deery with a knife, that the only person in possession of a weapon was the alleged injured party.

He also said that Deery claimed the alleged injured parties had been shouting homophobic abuse at him and told him 'you're a deadman'.

He also said that the incident in November with the alleged handgun had 'no forensics, no DNA and no independent witnesses'.

District Judge Ted Magill said the defendant had a record and he was concerned with the risk of re-offending. 

Bail was refused and Deery will appear again on December 3.