Derry Court: Man has curfew 'scaled back' following bail breach

A man who is on bail charged with 17 drug related offences has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court today charged with breaching his bail.

The man who has been granted anonymity due to the general threat existing in the city accepted breaching his bail by being out after his curfew. 

A police officer told the court that police were contacted by G4S on June 10 that the man was absent from his address. 

Police called out at 1.15am and there was no sign of the defendant. 

Police returned at 2am and the man was located and arrested for new drug related offences which he has not yet been charged. 

Police opposed bail as they said they believed there was 'a risk of re-offending' as the defendant is an addict who is feeding his own habit.

De Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that this was his client's first breach of bail.

He said that 'clearly there is a problem' but said that the defendant was attempting to get help.

The man was re-released on bail but his curfew was 'scaled back' to 5pm until 5am.

The man will appear again next month.