An Armagh man who is accused of assault and burglary of a dwelling has been granted bail but been banned from entering the Orchard county.
The 45-year-old’s legal representative told court his client had been in custody some five months and previously had difficulty obtaining an address outside of the county.
Stephen James Fox, of Corrigan Court, appeared for the purposes of a bail application at the city’s Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday via videolink from Maghaberry.
The defendant is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, taking without authority, burglary with intent to steal, using a vehicle without insurance and no driving licence.
None of the facts were heard in open court, however, the particulars alleged that all these offences were allegedly committed on Hallowe’en of last year.
Fox is accused of assaulting a named male, occasioning him actual bodily harm, and having entered a dwelling on Corrigan Court with intent to steal therein.
Giving evidence, a constable stated that a medical report was still awaited in the case and to date no timeframe for this had been provided to him.
Launching the application for bail, defence counsel outlined that a similar application launched on November 2 had been adjourned as no address could be found for his client.
“He’s been in custody now for approximately five months. That’s really the basis of the bail application at this stage,” said counsel.
Fox’s legal representative told court that an address on Newington Avenue in Belfast was now available.
“The reason he had some difficulties obtaining an address previously had been the getting of an address outside the Armagh area, where the incident occurred”, he said.
“We have now secured that address in Belfast. Mr Fox could be restricted entirely from the Armagh area, he has no reason to be there. ”
The constable stated that there would be no objections to the defendant being released to the address in Belfast.
District Judge Bernie Kelly granted Fox his own bail of £500, with conditions not to enter Co Armagh and to have no contact with the alleged injured party, directly or indirectly.
The case was then adjourned until April 26 for an update.
