Two men accused of affray and serious assault of two males in Newry will face Crown Court proceedings.
One of the accused appeared before the city’s Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn, on Wednesday via videolink from a solicitor’s officer in Australia.
Ruari Connolly, 36, of School Meadow in Newtownhamilton, is charged with grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray and appeared from his solicitor’s office in this jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, Lee Daniel McKay, 37, with an address of Drumalane Park in Newry, who faces charges of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and affray was visible in court via videolink from his solicitor’s office in Australia.
As the charges were read out, it was outlined that all of the alleged offences occurred on December 30, of last year, with two named complainants.
The charge of affray, which both face, is alleged to have occurred at Merchants Quay in Newry.
The defendants made no objection to the holding of a preliminary enquiry.
Prosecution submitted that based on the papers before the court there was a prima facie case to answer.
Defence counsel for both accused made no contrary submissions.
District Judge Amanda Brady released both defendants on continuing bail to appear before Newry Crown Court on a date to be fixed.
