A Newtownbutler man is accused of attempted murder
A NEWTOWNBUTLER man who is accused of attempting to murder his wife, allegedly smothered her with a pillow forcing her to, ‘play dead’.
Archie Ivan Bryans, of Railway Crescent, Gortgommon, appeared in the dock at Enniskillen Magistrates Court last Wednesday accused of attempting to murder his wife, Breda Bryans and threatening to kill her on Monday, October 14.
The court heard that the married couple were in Newtownbutler last Sunday evening and had arrived home around midnight after they left a pub.
The couple went to bed and, at around 1am, Bryans ‘kicked his wife out of the room’. She then slept in her daughter’s room and got up at around 8am to get her two daughters ready for school.
After returning to bed, it was then that Bryans went into the bedroom and lifted a pillow and allegedly began to smother her. She then started to feel light-headed and went limp and claimed she ‘played dead’.
According to an investigating officer, Mr Bryans then left the house and was arrested some 12 hours later in Newtownbutler. When questioned by police, the accused denied the charge, saying the incident never happened.
The defendant’s wife, who described him as an alcoholic, was medically examined and the doctor noted bruising to her mouth, arm and upper thigh.
The investigating police officer said he believed he could connect the accused to the charges.
He told the court that there had been previous domestic incidents dating back to 1995, 1996, 1999 and last August, but Mrs Bryans had withdrawn her statements on these occasions.
The court was told that, on this occasion, the accused had allegedly telephoned their daughter threatening to burn down their home and it was this that prompted Mrs Bryans to proceed with this case.
A defence solicitor for the case submitted that the medical examinations of the alleged victim did not show any injuries to her throat or that she had suffered any breathing issues.
District Judge Nigel Broderick noted the history of domestic violence in the case, and referred to the incident as “particularly disturbing”.
Refusing bail, Judge Broderick said he did not think that the accused would follow any bail conditions given to him because of his addiction to alcohol, his risk of committing further offences and interfering with any witnesses.
Bryans was remanded in custody and is to appear in court via video link on November 11.
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