Youth refused bail in axe case

Youth refused bail in axe case

16 July 2014

A DOWNPATRICK teenager accused of burying an ornamental axe in his uncle’s back has been warned his life may be under threat.

During a High Court bail hearing police said they fear for the safety of Sean Paul Lynch if he was to be released from custody.

The 18-year-old trainee joiner is charged with the attempted murder of Christopher Daniel ‘Gus’ Lynch during a family fight in Raholp.

His 42-year-old father Martin Lynch, the alleged victim’s brother, is also accused of involvement in the attack last week.

Lynch, of Carraig View, was refused bail due to the risk of any further offences being committed.

The bail hearing was told that police were first called out on July 1 after trouble flared during a party at the home he shares with his mother and father.

Gus Lynch had allegedly been chased out by his brother and nephew, armed with baseball bats, after Sean struck him on the head with a beer can. It was claimed that Gus Lunch’s girlfriend’s car was also attacked before they left the scene.

According to Stephanie Boyd, prosecuting, Gus received hospital treatment for a head wound before signing himself out of the Downe Hospital dressed only in shorts and shoes.

He returned to the accused’s home where a second confrontation took place outside, the court heard.

Mrs. Boyd claimed that as the two brothers grappled in the street Sean Lynch appeared to swipe at Gus’ back. “When he [Gus] got to the car it was realised that he had an axe sticking out of his back,” the barrister said.

Police found him in the back of the vehicle with the weapon embedded in his back. Having been taken back to hospital to have the axe removed, he is due to be released soon.

Lynch faces further charges of criminal damage to the car, possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence and common assault.

Opposing his application for bail, Mrs. Boyd said: “Police are concerned there is a serious threat on Sean Lynch’s life and they have warned him of that. They have concerns for his safety should he be back in the community.

Defence counsel Conan Rea argued that his client’s age and denial of the alleged offences were strong grounds for releasing him.

But refusing the application, Mr. Justice Weir ruled: “There’s a well-developed concern that if admitted to bail he would commit further offences and wouldn’t comply with conditions.”