A Lurgan man who is accused of stabbing a male to the leg and assaulting a taxi driver has been refused bail.
Refusing the 28-year-old’s application, the deputy district judge stated: “He has a horrible record. This is a very nasty set of offences and there is not a chance I will be giving him bail.”
Donald Fegan, of Lurgan Tarry, is charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, common assault, criminal damage, false imprisonment, two counts of threats to kill, possession off an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence and dangerous driving.
The defendant did not appear at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday as his case was listed for a bail application. Defence barrister Aaron Thompson stated that he was instructed to continue in his client’s absence.
Outlining the details, a constable told court how on November 7, at approximately midday, police received a report of a stabbing at a property on Ballyoran Park in Portadown.
Officers arrived to find the alleged injured party with a severe stab wound to his left leg. The female house owner claimed to have witnessed the incident and alleged defendant was the culprit.
Police received information that Fegan had gone to a taxi rank in Portadown in order to get a lift to Lurgan.
Court heard they subsequently contacted the driver to make him aware that the defendant was allegedly a danger.
The constable stated that the defendant allegedly punched the driver several times to the head whilst he was driving, threatened to kill him and grabbed the steering wheel of the taxi.
He informed the court that the only outstanding evidence in the case related to a medical.
Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes made an order that if the evidence was not available before April 9, a doctor or someone on their behalf must attend court to explain why not.
Outlining objections to bail, the constable stated that there was a fear of further offences and interference with witnesses.
He added that Fegan had 13 previous breaches of bail and commented that his offending appeared to be “escalating”.
Mr Thompson informed the court that the defendant had been in custody since November and in that time had served a sentence.
He stated that Fegan would be residing with his father, who was a “very significant support” and had walked his son to the police station on previous occasions when bail was breached.
Deputy District Judge Holmes said: “Looking at the record and hearing the facts, not only does he have a problem with alcohol but society had a problem with his alcohol problem.
“He has a horrible record. This is a very nasty set of offences and there is not a chance I will be giving him bail.”
The case was adjourned until April 9 for an update.
