Bail application expected to be made next week for Derry man charged with bow and arrow attempted murder

A 48-year-old Derry man alleged to have attempted to murder an ‘old friend’ with a bow and arrow will appear in court for a bail application next week. The defendant is accused of firing an arrow at the window of the victim’s house and using an axe to repeatedly strike the man’s door on January 4. Brian Forbes, of Glenanne in Derry, is charged with attempted murder and possession of two offensive weapons in a public place, namely bow and arrows and a large axe. He is further charged with threats to kill, causing criminal damage to a window and a door and common assault. Forbes appeared at Derry Magistrates Court today by way of video-link from Maghaberry prison. When the defendant first appeared in court, District Judge Barney McElholm adjourned a bail application to allow time for a mental health assessment to be carried out when Forbes arrived at prison. The judge requested that a bail support package be compiled by his solicitor. Today, defence solicitor Eugene Burns explained that he was in the process of compiling the bail support package, and expected it to be complete by the end of this week. The case was adjourned till January 23, when a bail application is anticipated.