Man charged with possessing offensive weapons and aggravated burglary remanded

A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today charged with possessing offensive weapons and aggravated burglary.

Joseph McDermott (39) of Clon Dara in Derry appeared charged with entering a premises in Beraghvale as a trespasser on February 24, possessing an offensive weapon by two and two assaults on females again on the same date.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and told the court that the defendant was in breach of other bail conditions by being out after his curfew.

The court was told that the original offences were said to have occurred on January 2023 when police received a 999 call from a woman who said a male and female had forced entry to their house. 

She said that the male had a large knife or an axe. 

Police attended and found a back window smashed and blood was found on various parts of the house.

The woman told police that she had heard banging and looked out and saw a female walking towards her house. 

She realised that the banging was coming from the rear of the house and herself and her partner placed a chest of drawers against the bedroom door. 

The male was said to have have used the weapon he had to try and force the door and the woman's partner used a baseball bat to strike his hand.

When the woman said she was phoning the police the pair left and a DNA check revealed the blood belonged to the defendant McDermott. 

In relation to the new charges the officer said that around 9pm on February 24 police were tasked to Beraghvale after reports of a male with a knife.

They spoke to the defendant at the entrance to the estate and he was arrested for being out after his curfew. 

While police were there they were approached by a woman who told them she had seen the defendant outside the property and her front door was open. 

Inside she found her TV smashed and her daughter's and her own bedroom ransacked.

Police then received reports of the defendant banging on other doors and in one case he shouted at two females 'I need to get someone else first but I will be back to stab you two.'

At interview McDermott denied all the offences but accepted he was in the area at the time. 

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that the defendant denied the offences entirely at interview. 

Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes said' I have never seen a case less likely to get bail '.

He said the defendant was' extremely dangerous ' and had obvious issues that needed dealing with.

He remanded McDermott in custody to appear again on March 21.