David Daly, a native of Swalinbar but whose address was given as no fixed abode, Enniskillen, attended Monday’s sitting of Enniskillen Magistrates Court on foot of a bench warrant. 

He is accused of obtaining services dishonestly by failing to pay for rooms at two hotels. 

The court was told that Daly had stayed at the Valley Hotel in Fivemiletown from 17th June until 18th August and failed to pay for a bill totalling £3,676.25. He then checked into the Enniskillen Hotel on 18th August until Saturday last, September 2nd where the bill had reached £2,032.95.  

Daly told staff at the Enniskillen Hotel that he was going to the Halifax to get cash to pay for the room but failed to return. District Judge Nigel Broderick was told that the hotel believed that they had had Daly’s correct bank details in order to charge his room. 

Daly, who sat with his head in his hands throughout Monday’s bail hearing, also faced charges of driving a Vauxhall Corsa without insurance or a licence on Saturday last. 

Police objected to bail on the grounds that they believed Daly was likely to re-offend and no bail address was available in this jurisdiction. A PSNI officer added that the defendant had checked into the Donn Carragh Hotel in Lisnaskea on the day of his arrest. 

Defence solicitor, Gary Black said Daly had previously been released on bail on a separate matter to his home in Swalinbar and had answered bail on each occasion. It was also alleged in court that during his stay in the Enniskillen Hotel, Daly had left his hotel room vacant for ten days. Mr Black handed in boarding passes and luggage tags on behalf of his client, adding that Daly had travelled to Montreal and Toronto via Dublin. 

The judge told the court: “It’s all a bit bizarre” and expressed concern after being informed of Daly’s mental health issues. The court was told that the only address available to Daly was in Swalinbar and that he had previously resided with his partner and six children in Lisnaskea. 

Judge Broderick said the bail address posed a risk of flight and refused the application. He adjourned the case until today (Wednesday) for Daly to appear again via videolink from Maghaberry Prison to allow police to liaise with gardai over the proposed bail address.