Two men remanded in custody following serious assault in Limavady

Two men have appeared before a local court in connection with a serious assault which took place in Limavady on Friday evening.

Kane McDermott, (32), of Benevenagh Drive, Limavady, and Jason McDaid, (33), also with an address at Benevenagh Drive, both appeared via video link from custody before Coleraine Magistrates' Court this afternoon (Monday).

McDermott is charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to a male on April 4.

He is further charged with possession of a class A drug, namely cocaine, and possession of a class C drug, namely Pregabalin, on the same date.

Meanwhile, McDaid is charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to a male on April 4.

An investigating officer told the court that the charges are linked to a serious assault which happened in the Benevenagh Drive area of Limavady on Friday evening.

Police were called to McDaid’s home following a report of a male being found in the property with serious injuries.

The court heard that McDaid, McDermott and the injured party had been drinking along with two other witnesses, a male and female, since Thursday, April 3.

The witnesses claimed that they had started drinking in the female’s home and later moved to McDermott’s property where they continued to drink alcohol.

The two witnesses claimed that they fell asleep and when they woke up they noticed the injured party was still sleeping on the sofa while McDaid and McDermott were both awake.

The witnesses said they then left the property and went home.

Some time later, the female witness received a phone call asking her to check on McDaid and when she visited his flat she found him lying on the floor in an unresponsive state and the injured party was also found in the property covered in blood.

She called an ambulance and the injured party was transported to Altnagelvin Hospital where he still remains.

While the full extent of his injuries were not revealed, an investigating officer told the court that he has sustained a very large gash to the top of his head, cuts to his ears, puncture wounds to his stomach and sides, scrapes on his back and hips and cuts to his feet.

The officer said that during police investigations, a number of potential weapons had been found, including broken golf clubs, switchblades and other items.

She said an attempt had also been made to clean up blood on the floor and washed clothes had been found in the washing machine.

She said police had obtained CCTV footage which showed a male, believed to be the injured party, being escorted by two other men via a back alleyway to McDaid’s property.

The officer told the court that police had briefly spoken to the injured party in hospital, however he claimed he couldn't remember anything.

She said doctors are not certain whether this is down to what the injured party had consumed or the head injury he has sustained.

The investigating officer said police are opposed to bail for both accused as neither have suitable bail addresses and as the investigation is still live they have witnesses local to Limavady who have yet to be spoken to.

Thomas McKeever, barrister for McDermott, said his client’s account is that McDaid had attacked the injured party and he had helped him to carry the victim to the flat.  

Mr McKeever said McDermott claimed he had only helped McDaid as he was scared of him and had been assaulted by him in the past. 

Alan Stewart, barrister for McDaid, said his client instructs that the victim in the case is his best friend and he claims he was concerned about him and wanted to take him to his home for ‘safekeeping’.

District Judge Peter King said he was refusing bail for both accused due to the lack of suitable bail addresses and also the fact that witnesses still have to be spoken to by police.

Judge King added that the charge of wounding that both accused are facing is ‘almost at the apex of criminal law in this jurisdiction’.

McDermott and McDaid were both remanded in custody to appear before Limavady Magistrates’ Court on April 30.