A Banbridge man accused of threatening to burn down a man’s mother’s house has been rejected bail.
Brian McCourt, of Oak Lodge, was heard before Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry Courthouse.
The 45-year-old appeared before the court via video-link from Banbridge custody, for a breach of bail, alongside a set of new charges. He also sought to make a new bail application.
He was charged with threats to damage property, threats to kill and blackmail.
Police received a report on July 29 from an injured party claiming that, three days prior, the defendant threatened to put him in “intensive care” and “cut his face”.
He blocked the number, but was allegedly advised on the 29th to unblock the number or “there would be consequences.”
It is then alleged that he received a call from the defendant demanding £5,000 or else his parent’s house would be burnt.
On July 30, while police were recording the statement of evidence from the injured party, he allegedly received two further calls from McCourt, where the defendant was accused of being “very aggressive and calling him a “f*****g rat”, threatening him that someone would be at his mother’s house.
When police went looking for him in relation to the offences, he wasn’t residing at his assigned bail address.
After he was arrested, on his way to Omagh custody, McCourt allegedly said: “I’m going to f*****g kill him when I get out of here.”
In reference to the bail granted for McCourt’s previous charges, District Judge Anne Marshall said that the defendant has had the benefit of “exceptionally lenient disposals”, but his “luck has run out today.”
McCourt was then refused further bail due to the potential for further offences being committed and in light of his relevant record.
“He can appeal the decision to the High Court and they may or may not think that he’s a candidate for bail but I certainly don’t,” Judge Marshall added.
The case was adjourned to August 18, for McCourt to appear via video-link before Banbridge Magistrates’ Court sitting at Newry Courthouse.
