Newcastle stabbing: man in court

Newcastle stabbing: man in court

10 February 2016

A NEWCASTLE man has been remanded in custody accused of attacking a man in the resort last week.

Fifty three year-old Brian Dougan, of Ballaghbeg Park, appeared at Downpatrick Court charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Adrian McAvoy outside a supermarket on February 2.

Douglas, who stood in the dock with a black right eye and bruised temple, was also charged with possessing a weapon — a stick with nails — with intent to inflict GBH and making a threat to kill Phillip Smith

Dougan nodded to confirm he understood the three charges against him.

Mr McAvoy was attacked near the Tesco store on the Castlewellan Road at 7.35pm on Tuesday evening.

Paramedics were called and the victim was taken for treatment for five stab wounds to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

A police constable told a prosecuting lawyer he believed he could connect Dougan to the charges.

Defence solicitor Gareth Doran revealed that Dougan has “a number of mental health issues” which will be assessed in Magheraberry Prison.

Asking for the case to be adjourned for a week, he claimed that despite those difficulties police were agreeable to Dougan being released on bail provided he had an address outside the Newcastle area.

Mr Doran said he would contact hostels in an effort to obtain such as address.

Remanding Dougan into custody to appear again next Thursday via video-link, District Judge Peter King granted legal aid for the proceedings.