AN ENNISKILLEN man has been remanded in custody after allegedly breaking into a house with the intent of harming a sex assault accused, court heard.
Kieran Joseph Redmond (36) of Sligo Road was held overnight for hearing at Omagh Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Redmond is charged with burglary with intent to cause grievously bodily harm and criminal damage.
The court heard that on Tuesday, August 6 at Kilmacormick Avenue the victim was at home asleep with his wife and children when he was awoken to thumping sounds from his front door.
Shortly after two men appeared in the doorway of his bedroom, both holding hammers. One man said to the defendant, who was masked, if the man in bed was ‘him’.
After confirming the victim was not the man they were looking for, the men left the house. CCTV from outside the property revealed that four men arrived to the house in a red Mercedes. The man proceeded to damage the victims motorcycle, which was parked outside, before breaking in to the property.
A police detective objected to bail, citing that this was only one of the four men identified by the victim involved in the incident before the court, with searches underway to locate the three other men. He added that police were also looking for the red Mercedes used by the accused, which the defendant did not disclose during interview.
The detective told the court that the alleged incident had left the family shaken, adding that the daughter of the victim fears that the accused would return.
It was further added by the detective that there was a fear of further offending and intimidation of witnesses if the defendant was released.
However, the detective admitted that the victim of the burglary was not the intended victim of the attack, adding that the men were looking for a man accused of a sexual assault against a teen girl.
Defence counsel Blaine Nugent said that whilst the offences were ‘serious’ it was not a reason to refuse bail. He added that Redmond had no significant criminal record and whilst he provided a no-comment interview, it was also not a reason to refuse bail.
Deputy district judge Brian Archer said there was a strong case to answer and the intended victim was still at risk of reprisal. However, he added that bail could be looked at again after the three other accused are before the court.
Redmond will appear before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on September 9.
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