Man 'effectively on the run since August' remanded in custody

A man who has been 'effectively on the run since August' has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court.

The man who cannot be named after he was granted anonymity on another matter before the Crown Court appeared on a series of charges including three assaults on police.

He was charged with assaulting three police officers on February 2, resisting and obstructing police and disorderly behaviour in the Dungiven Road area as well as a charge of criminal damage all on the same date. 

He was further charged with criminal damage and the theft of a tag on August 11 last year. 

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client also had warrants from Derry Crown Court and Laganside and he accepted that his bail application was 'probably hopeless'.

A police officer told the court that at 5pm on February 2 police were on duty in the Waterside area and observed a car that had failed to stop for them on January 6.

They saw the car was stopped in traffic and approached when the defendant was said to have got out and kicked an officer in the stomach.

He was then said to have punched another officer in the face and struggled with police causing them to hit their emergency response buttons. 

A female who was said to be driving the vehicle fled the scene. 

After being arrested the man said he had got out of one side of the vehicle because the officer there appeared to be smaller. 

He was said to have been abusive towards police and the interview had to be terminated.

Bail was opposed due to fact that the man had been avoiding police since last August and the officer said that they had no confidence the man would keep any bail conditions. 

Mr MacDermott said that his bail application was 'hopeless' due to the warrants.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that the man was 'totally unsuitable' for bail and remanded him in custody to appear again on February 22.