Father and son in court charged with attempted murder

Father and son in court charged with attempted murder

9 July 2014

A DOWNPATRICK father and son have been charged with the attempted murder of a relative who was found with an ornamental axe embedded in his back.

Martin Lynch (42) and his 18 year-old son, Sean Paul Lynch, have been remanded in custody charged with attempting to murder Martin’s brother, Christopher Daniel Lynch, on the outskirts of Downpatrick on Tuesday night.

A court hearing in Downpatrick was told that Christopher Lynch, who is also known as Gus, was admitted to the Ulster Hospital with the axe still embedded in his back.

A detective constable told the court that the incident occurred at Martin and Sean Paul’s home at Carraig View, in Raholp.

Objecting to bail for both men, the constable explained a row had broken out inside the house earlier in the evening when Sean Paul threw a beer can at Gus.

Martin ordered his brother from the house, but Gus was then chased outside by both defendants who were armed with baseball bats.

Gus was hit in the head with a baseball bat and required six staples at the Downe Hospital A&E unit.

Police were called to the scene but all appeared calm when they arrived, said the detective.

However, when he left the hospital Gus went back to Carraig View saying he wanted to sort things out with his brother. Several windows were broken in the house and shortly afterwards Martin and Gus got involved in a fight which spilled outside on to the road.

The detective said Sean Paul was also involved in the fight which ended when Gus was hit with the axe.

When police arrived at the scene they found Gus face down in the back seat of his partner’s car. The detective said he required surgery to remove the weapon but his injuries were not life threatening.

Martin and Sean Paul have since been charged with attempted murder, two counts of possession of an offensive weapon and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The detective said when interviewed Sean Paul did not make any comment throughout while Martin spoke only once.

He said a baseball bat was seized at the house along with a broken shaft which may have come from the axe. He also said a hammer was found in the footwell of the car in which Gus travelled to Raholp.

He objected to bail because of the fear the two men may interfere with witnesses or take part in reprisals. He also said Martin had a long history of previous convictions, including some for violence, and his son had recently been involved in violent attacks involving the use of weapons.

Both men were on bail at the time of the attack charged with assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

The police office confirmed under questioning from defence solicitor, Darren Duncan, that Gus Lynch has not yet made a statement of complaint and has said he may not do so.

Mr. Duncan said the only evidence against his clients came from Gus’s partner who, he claimed, had been drinking heavily before the incident.

He also said Martin suffered a head injury and a broken eye socket, which will require surgery, during the incident.

Mr. Duncan claimed that both defendants had said the police will not find their fingerprints on the axe which was used to attack Gus.

District Judge Greg McCourt refused bail saying both had been involved in an incident in which a man was left with an axe embedded up to five inches into his back.

“No matter what the circumstances when they were both arrested they made no comment or tried to explain what had happened,” said Mr. McCourt.

“Whoever instigated this incident there is no doubt you were both involved prima facie in a severe attack on Gus Lynch,” he added.

Both men were remanded in custody.