Man faces charge of threatening to kill priest inside church
A MAN charged with having a Stanley knife with intent and threatening to kill a priest after mass at a church in the Glens of Antrim has been remanded in custody.
Seamus Peter Murdock (41), whose address was given as Whitehill Road, Carnlough, appeared via video link from Maghaberry Prison at Ballymena Magistrates Court yesterday.
The alleged incident happened last Sunday, April 30, in Carnlough. Murdock faces three charges. The first is that he threatened to kill Fr Dermot McKay, the parish priest at St John the Evangelist Church on Carnlough seafront.
He is also accused of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a Stanley knife, with intent to murder.
He is also charged with possessing a Stanley knife in a public place, Whitehill Road.
Earlier this week, police confirmed they had arrested a 41-year-old man after the incibeen dent in a Catholic church. It was alleged the man followed the priest into a side room of the church after mass and threatened him with a knife.
A prosecutor told Ballymena Court yesterday that Murdock had first appeared at a special sitting of the same court on May Day, where he had been remanded in custody.
The lawyer said a full file has requested by prosecutors.
Defence barrister Stephen Law said while the file is being progressed it is intended that the accused will be “assessed by a medical professional in light of the nature of the charges”.
No application was made for bail and the case was adjourned until June when the accused will appear back at the same court via video link from prison.