22-year-old Derry man breached bail condition to visit Creggan and 'support the bonfires'

A 22-year-old man breached his bail conditions by visiting the Creggan area to ‘support the bonfires’ and allegedly caused criminal damage to his mother’s nearby home, a court heard yesterday.

Michael Logue, of no fixed abode, appeared on an overnight charge for criminal damage of his mother’s home on August 15.

Charges of false imprisonment, common assault and two counts of criminal damage on May 5, 2017, also appeared on the court list for an update from the investigating officer.

He was also in breach of bail conditions on August 15.

On Tuesday he ‘tried to damage the doors’ of his mother’s house at Culdaff Gardens after attending a bonfire in the Creggan area of the city.

A police officer said there has been ‘somewhat of a domestic history’ between the pair, but nothing has come before the court.

It is when the defendant turns up drunk to her property that difficulties arise, the officer explained.

And yesterday ‘he was drunk’ after turning up to ‘support the bonfires’.

He ventured to his mother’s address where he kicked the doors and called her a ‘c—t’ and a ‘prostitute’.

A police officer said he would agree to the defendant being admitted to bail if he was prohibited from contacting his mother.

The defendant has been on bail living in Strabane since he was connected to the original charges and, has not breached his conditions, which came as a ‘surprise’ to the officer.

When interviewed about the alleged offences on Tuesday he was ‘frank and apologetic’.

The 22-year-old was released on bail to have no contact with his ex-girlfriend, the alleged victim in the original case, no contact with his mother, and the same terms as before.

District Judge Barney McElholm said New York had The Bonfire of the Vanities, but in Northern it’s more like ‘The Bonfire of the Inanities’.

Defence barrister Stephen Chapman said the original case has experienced delays and asked for it to be taken to September 13, when it is hoped the full file will be submitted.