Derry men charged after stolen car was sold outside bar for £230
Duo face multiple charges after a vehicle was stolen, a home burgled, and a man left with serious head injuries
Two men have appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with a number of driving and affray offences that were said to have occurred at the weekend.
Bernard McFadden (28) of Bishop Park and Keelan Rheinheimer (28) of Glenabbey Crescent, both in Derry, were charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, taking a motor vehicle without permission, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving with no insurance, burglary and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a glass bottle, all on August 31.
Rheinheimer was also charged with driving with no L plates and, on September 1, possession of stolen property and failing to provide a breath specimen to police.
Police were initially called to a report of three males acting suspiciously around a vehicle getting into a car that, it was reported, did not belong to any of them.
They were spotted driving into oncoming traffic and failed to stop for police.
Police were later called to a report of a robbery at a house, where a TV and children's money box were stolen. The same car was said to be at the scene.
Later, a man was reported to have been assaulted and taken to hospital for a serious head wound. The man gave a description of the men alleged to have assaulted him that matched McFadden and Rheinheimer.
McFadden was later found to be injured himself and taken to hospital and he appeared in court with a bandage around his head.
The stolen car was spotted parked outside a bar and when police arrived they found the car to have been sold for £230.
Rheinheimer was arrested and, upon searching, £230 was found. Police also believed him to be under the influence but he refused to allow a test.
Bail was objected to for both men as police believe there is a clear risk of further offending and interfering with witnesses.
Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott, representing McFadden, said that the evidence connecting him to the alleged offences was 'somewhat tenuous' and said that McFadden was supposedly assaulted himself by Rheinheimer, suffering 'quite serious injuries'.
Defence Barrister Stephen Mooney, representing Rheinheimer, admitted that there was more evidence that Rheinheimer may have been more directly involved in the alleged offences.
Both were granted bail on conditions that include they not be in the passenger seats of motor vehicles, they have no contact with each other, they abstain from drugs and alcohol and stay out of designated areas of the city.
They will appear again on October 1.