Brendan McLaughlin of Tempo Road, Tempo is charged with the attempted murder of Michael Fox, the attempted murder of Conor McBarron, grievous bodily harm on Dylan Quaile, and one charge of burglary with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm at Trasna Way on October 8 last. 

An arrest warrant was issued for the 26-year-old when he failed to show up for a hearing at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday. 

Having been released on bail in January, McLaughlin had been taken back into custody in February after breaching that bail. He was denied further bail at Enniskillen Magistrates Court more recently, out of concerns over his risk of reoffending, but was then released on High Court bail earlier this month.

Defence counsel Alan Blackburn said he did not know why his client had not showed up to court, and urged District Judge Bonita Boyd to hold off issuing an arrest warrant and instead wait to see if the defendant showed up for a hearing at Dungannon Crown Court tomorrow (Thursday) where he is due to appear for sentencing on a range of driving offences, including dangerous driving. 

The barrister said if McLaughlin failed to appear in Dungannon, an arrest warrant could then be issued by Judge Fowler. 

Mr Blackburn added bail had not been opposed on fears McLaughlin would not turn up at court and said the defendant, who he added had built up “quite a serious record” of offending, currently lived with his parents and had cooperated fully with probation services. 

A representative for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said they had concerns that both McLaughlin and his co-accused Nicola Leonard, and applied for a bench warrant for both accused. 

The court was told was Leonard was McLaughlin’s partner and is charged with assisting offenders and possessing cannabis in relation to the same incident on October 8 last. Leonard had been in court earlier in the day in relation to an unconnected matter.

District Judge Bonita Boyd said the charges against McLaughlin were serious and granted the PPS application for an arrest warrant to be issued. She denied the requests for a bench warrant for Leonard, who has a limited previous record.