County Derry man accused of ramming two cars and a bus in Kilrea refused bail
Appearing at court by videolink from police custody the defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with 11 offences
A County Derry man accused of ramming two cars and a bus was remanded into custody today due to fears that he would commit further offences.
Refusing to free the 31-year-old, District Judge Peter King told Coleraine Magistrates Court given the nature of the offences, the defendant’s previous convictions and that he is on bail for an aggravated burglary which “could easily end up in the Crown Court….I have absolutely no hesitation indicating that I’m not going to be granting bail.”
Appearing at court by videolink from police custody the defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, confirmed that he understood the 11 charges against him all alleged to have been committed around the Diamond area on Kilrea on November 27 this year.
The 31-year-old faces charges of driving while unfit, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, three charges of failing to provide a specimen of breath, driving with neither insurance nor a licence, theft of a coat and phone, criminal damage and obstructing police.
Giving evidence to he court Det. Const. McCormick said he believed he could connect the 31-year-old to each of the offences, adding that police were objecting to bail due to concerns about further offending.
He told the court that just after 4.30pm on Wednesday police received a report about an “ongoing disturbance during which the reporting person said they were being followed by a number of males in the car behind.”
The defendant is alleged to have been the driver and the officer claimed he rammed the complainant’s car and during the call “screaming could be heard.”
Police attended the scene but the defendant’s car rammed them and “collided with a bus” as he tried to flee the scene.
“Police smashed the window and detained the defendant and a number of other males,” said the detective adding that inside the car police found empty bottle of alcohol and “suspected heroin.”
Two other men remain in police custody, DC McCormick told the court adding that the 31-year-old was charged after he refused to provide a sample and refused top speak during police interviews.
Applying for bail a defence barrister submitted that “at its height it’s a dangerous driving charge” and further that bail conditions cooked be put in place to address police concerns.
Ruling that the 31-year-old had breached bail conditions in the aggravated burglary case however, Judge King revealed that in addition the defendant has previous convictions for wounding and witness intimidation.
“I have absolutely no hesitation in indicting that I am not granting bail,” said the judge and citing that he was concerned about the risk of further offences, he told the court the 31-year-old has already “had an unhappy start of a Crown Court career.”
The Coleraine case was adjourned to December 23 and the aggravated burglary case was put back to December 18.