Derry man accused of spitting in bus driver's face remanded in custody

A man who has been charged with assaulting a bus driver by allegedly spitting into the driver's face, has been refused bail and remanded in custody when he appeared before Derry Magistrate's Court today.

Frankie Lynn (21) from Rockmills in the Strand Road area of the city, is alleged to have committed the offence on Monday of this week.

He's also charged that on the same day he attempted to damage or destroy a Translink bus by throwing a traffic cone at the vehicle as it was being driven along Strand Road and he's further charged with three counts of causing criminal damage to fittings inside Rockmills.

The defendant is additionally charged with indecent behaviour outside Rockmills on the same date.

Objecting to bail a police officer told Deputy District Judge Peter Prenter that the bus driver saw a man picking up and hitting the bus with a traffic cone. The driver got off the bus to challenge the defendant.

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The court heard the defendant approached him in an aggressive manner and spat into his face. 

The defendant was carrying a bunch of white flowers at the time. 

Later on the same day the police received a report of a man causing criminal damage to fittings in the Rock Mills complex. The police viewed the footage which showed the defendant, who the officers recognised, carrying a bunch of white flowers.

The defendant was arrested on Wednesday of this week but made a no comment interview.

The police witness said the defendant, who has fifty-six previous criminal convictions, was currently on Crown Court bail charged with escaping from lawful custody.

"There is a clear case of re-offending regarding this defendant. He is a danger to the public and I believe he could not be managed by bail conditions", the officer said.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said he believed the case involving the bus 'was a weak enough case'.

He said the defendant had 'addiction issues' but had been on bail without incident since December. 

Judge Prenter said that there was a clear risk of reoffending and added he did not believe the defendant could be managed by conditions. 

Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded in custody until March 25.