A police constable made the remarks at Enniskillen Magistrates Court this week as three local men appeared in connection with an arson attack at the weekend. 

Patrick McMulkin, (21) of Sally’s Wood; Michael Maughan (26) of Brownhill Meadows and a 16-year-old male, who cannot be named because of his age, are charged with the incidents which occurred on Saturday and Sunday last, January 13th and 14th in the Sallys Wood and Castle Street area. All three appeared in court on Monday to apply for bail. 

Maughan and the youth are charged with an arson attack on a caravan; criminal damage and attempted criminal damage to windows and tyres; making threats to kill; possession of a machete; common assault; two counts of grievous bodily harm against two males; burglary and the theft of a mobile phone, cash and jewellery valued at £400. Meanwhile McMulkin faces charges of arson and disorderly behaviour. 

The court heard that police were contacted by one of the injured parties, who lives at Castle Street, at 2.30am on Saturday morning who claimed he had been punched in the face after being awoken by Maughan and the youth. The second victim was reportedly kicked and punched in the head by the pair who also made off with a Samsung mobile phone, a ring and cash. Both victims sustained suspected broken jaws. 

At 06.26 on Sunday police received a 999 call from another alleged injured party who said three males were outside his home at Sallys Wood with a slashhook and caused damage to his van’s tyre. It was claimed that Maughan and the youth had been looking to get in to drink but were refused entry at which point Maughan pulled a machete out of his trousers and threatened to cut the victim’s head off. The man then observed his neighbour’s caravan on fire 100 metres away and saw three males walking away from the scene. 

When later arrested Maughan and the youth provided no comment interviews while McMulkin told police that he was at home in bed with his partner. 

Objecting to bail, the policewoman said Maughan and McMulkin were heavily involved in ongoing anti-social behaviour in Irvinestown and that locals were fearful to report matters. 

District Judge Nigel Broderick released the youth on bail and ordered that he reside with his mother, be electronically tagged and abide by a 9pm-8am curfew. He was also ordered to have no contact with the injured parties or his co-accused. He will appear before the youth court on February 13th. Maughan and McMulkin were denied bail due to the risk of them committing further offences, interfering with witnesses and failing to abide by bail conditions. Both were remanded in custody and will appear in court again via videolink on February 12th.