Three men who face charges in connection to wounding with intent to cause GBH will face Crown Court proceedings next month.
All three defendants appeared at Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for the purposes of a preliminary enquiry (PE), the legal process during which a case is referred to the higher court.
Stephen Patrick Morgan, 26, of Chancellors Hall, Newry, and Nial Shabani, 36, of Bearna Park, Killeavy, are charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Meanwhile, Danny McDonald, 27, of Drumalane Road, Newry, is accused of driving whilst disqualified and aiding and abetting wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
As these charges were read, it was heard that all of the offences are alleged to have occurred on October 19, of 2019.
Morgan is accused of being in possession of a Stanley knife, whilst the alleged offensive weapon in the case of Shabani is a knife.
Appearing via videolink from their respective solicitors’ offices, the three 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 counsels for the three accused made no contrary submissions.
District Judge Eamonn King was satisfied there was a prima facie case to answer and the defendants were released on continuing bail to appear before Newry Crown Court on March 25 for arraignment.
