Enniskillen Courthouse
A MAN who is accused of brandishing a hurley stick during a fight that broke out in Belanaleck following a car crash has been refused bail.
Kieron Whelan, of Glenpatrick, Carrick On Shannon, faces a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. The 33-year-old appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court via videolink from Maghaberry Prison for a bail application.
A police officer, who was objecting to his release, explained to the court that the PSNI received a report of a road traffic accident in Belanaleck on June 7, which then broke into a large fight involving hurley sticks.
Police investigations found the incident involved a number of males one of whom was accused of having a Stanley knife and a number of other items including a beanie hat. Whelan was one of the people in the Ford Focus and was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.
This defendant gave an account that he was out and about for a drive with a number of others including John Sweeney, who was the driver of the car. The court heard that Mr Sweeney’s brother had passed away in June and he went out for a drive because he wanted to clear his head after he had been at Sligo Hospital.
When they were out in Carrick On Shannon a green Audi drove behind them and they thought the vehicle was going to overtake them, however the front seat passenger struck the car he was travelling in with a shovel. A chase ensued and the occupants produced a shotgun.
The chase commenced and they tried to get away and they ended up in Blacklion to try and find a PSNI station. However, they went to a cul de sac to try to evade the Audi. But the other car appeared in Blacklion so Whelan and the others travelled into Bellanaleck where the chase pursed.
Sweeney’s car skimmed a corner and lost control and that’s where the collision happened causing quite serious injury to a woman not connected to the incident. The occupants got out of the green Audi and tried to attack them all which is claimed to be vouched by a witness.
He had two previous bail application which were refused and he has spent three months in custody. District Judge Nigel Broderick denied the bail application and stated: “My view is that these concerns remain valid. There is no significant connection between the defendant and the bail address.”
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