Conor Floyd (18) with an address at Rossorry Church Road, Windmill Hill, Enniskillen appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court last Wednesday via videolink from prison, where he is currently on remand on charges arising from the incident on May 31, when two terrified staff members reportedly had to lock themselves away from the teenager in a staff office. 

Floyd, who has 81 previous convictions, is charged with two counts of common assault on the staff members, two counts of threatening to kill them, as well as seven counts of criminal damage, including damage to a police patrol car, six counts of assault on police, four counts of resisting police, one count of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a crowbar, disorderly behaviour, assault on a police-designated person, burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage, and criminal damage endangering life. 

He has been in custody since being arrested on May 31, having initially been denied bail due to  his risk of reoffending and because his grandparent’s home was deemed an unsuitable bail address as they would be unable to control him.

Floyd was then later denied compassionate leave to visit his ill grandfather, who had a strong role in raising him, on the grounds of public safety. 

Speaking at that ruling at East Tyrone Magistrates Court earlier in August, Judge John Meehan said there were 26 charges of “high violence” against Floyd, and added: “I have to balance the safety of the public against the circumstances however acute they may be. I refuse on those grounds and because the defence have failed to make an adequate application.”

Floyd was also denied bail at the High Court on the same day, and Enniskillen Magistrates Court was told that on that occasion he had behaved inappropriately at that hearing and removed himself from the prison video link suite. 

On Wednesday Floyd’s defence barrister Stefan Rafferty said he was “very grateful” the court had allowed a second application at short notice, explaining the defence team now had medical evidence regarding Floyd’s grandfather’s condition that had not been previously made available to the court.

Mr Rafferty said, if bail was granted, a social worker could accompany Floyd to and from Altnagelvin Hospital, where is grandfather was being treated. 

District Judge Nigel Broderick granted the application and ruled Floyd be allowed to leave prison the following day, last Thursday, August 25, from the hours of 9.30am to 5pm, on his own bail of £500 and on the condition that a Western Trust social worker accompanied him at all times. 

Floyd’s case was adjourned until September 12, when a date for the holding of a preliminary enquiry against him will be set.