Bail refused for Derry man accused of abduction and ‘bleach attack’ on victim

Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how a man who was found wandering naked near the border said he had been kidnapped, tied up, questioned and sprayed with bleach.

Eamonn McDaid (33) of Westway in Derry appeared charged with a number of offences that were said to have occurred on October 1 last year.

He was charged with adbucting a man, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent,  false imprisonment, assault and administering poison or a noxious substance against the same person.

He was also charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear, possessing drugs, stealing household items and entering a premises as a trespasser again on the same date. 

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. 

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The court heard that on October 1 Gardai located a naked man on back roads near the border shouting for help.

The man was said to have been 'in fear and distressed' and told Gardai he had been abducted in Derry, stripped, tied up all day, questioned and sprayed with bleach.

He also said he was forced to take a drug and was then bundled into a car, sprayed with bleach again and told to bring £2,000 in cash to a location. 

CID detectives found CCTV linking certain vehicles at the injured party's address .

The man then named two people who he claimed had abducted him.

McDaid was arrested on March 10 and made a prepared statement claiming he knew the alleged injured party and had travelled with him in a vehicle. 

Apart from that he refused to make any comment. 

Bail was opposed due to the risk of interference with witnesses and the fact had 20 previous convictions. 

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Defence counsel Sean Doherty said if the offences had just occurred he could understand a bail application would be difficult. 

He said the offences allegedly occurred in October and there had been nothing since.

District Judge Ted Magill said that the risk of interference 'comes alive' now that two people had been identified and so there was a risk of witness interference. 

Bail was refused and McDaid was remanded in custody to appear again on April 2.