Derry man charged with abducting a child back in court for breaching his bail conditions

A Derry man charged with abducting a child in care has appeared at the city’s magistrates court for breaching bail conditions three days after being released from prison.

Christopher Harley, 29, of Kular Court, was granted bail on Monday, December 19, and returned to court on December 23 after demanding money from his family when he was intoxicated on December 22.

The breach of bail was accepted.

He is originally charged with knowingly taking a child in care away from a responsible person on October 15 of this year.

When arrested at a family member’s address Harley blew a reading of 68mg/l on a breath test.

There was no suggestion that he had missed curfew and he had been residing at the correct bail address.

The defendant had been in prison since October 17, before being bailed on December 19.

A defence solicitor said the offence he is originally charged with carries a maximum sentence of six months and his client has already served a three-month sentence.

He said that Harley had a couple of drinks, had not committed any new offences and wasn’t near any witnesses in the case.

The no alcohol condition was said to be difficult for the defendant.

There have been delays in the case and a VIPER (identification parade) was due to be carried out.

The defence solicitor asked for bail to be granted as the case could take a couple of months to come to a conclusion.

Deputy District Judge Laura Ivers said it was ‘incredibly disappointing’ to see the defendant before the court again having overseen his admission to bail on December 19.

She made it clear that a breach of one condition is enough to revoke bail.

The police and court had ‘put faith in him’, she said.

“And ninety-nine times out of one hundred bail would be revoked. The court doesn’t want to be made a fool of,” she added.

Granting bail, Judge Ivers said she was taking a chance with Harley, but warned him it was important that he adheres to bail conditions.

He is subject to a curfew of 9pm-7am, he must not consume alcohol or enter licensed premises, must submit to a preliminary breath test if required, must co-operate with a police Viper identification procedure, and must have no contact with anyone under eighteen years of age.

The defendant will appear before court again on January 12.