Murder bid accused’s bail altered to let him enjoy a ‘festive sherry’

A WOULD-BE killer has had his bail varied to allow him to have “a festive sherry or two” over the Christmas holidays.

While a judge said he would allow 38-year-old Remy Lafferty to drink alcohol in his own house with “some hesitation”, he is still barred from entering licensed premises so someone else will have to buy him alcohol.

Lafferty, from Glentaisie Park in Portrush, Co Antrim, is currently on bail accused of attempting to murder William Moore, wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing a broken umbrella with intent to commit murder on March 13 last year.

Lafferty is alleged to have used an umbrella shaft to stab Mr Moore in the neck in an attack outside a bar in Portstewart.

Opening the facts in the brief contested bail application yesterday, prosecuting lawyer Suzanne Gallagher described how police and ambulance crews arrived at the scene to find two men unconscious. Both men were taken

Accused: Remy Lafferty

to the Causeway Hospital. The court heard that while Lafferty was released into police custody within a short time, his alleged victim “spent some time in ICU” having sustained two stab wounds to his neck.

When arrested and interviewed, Lafferty claimed he had little recollection of the incident “due to intoxication”.

Ms Gallagher said it was clear “that alcohol is a significant factor with this individual... when he has drink taken the risk of him re-offending is significantly increased”. Defence barrister Francis Rafferty said while “I cannot gainsay” the PPS submissions, he was putting forward a “festive compromise” that Lafferty would be allowed to consume alcohol, exclusively in his own home.

He told the court the defendant, who was once refused permission to travel to a dance music festival in Liverpool, had been on bail for 18 months with no problems, submitting that “between Christmas and New Year, he would be entitled to certainly a festive sherry or two”.

Judge Desmond Marrinan said while he did not want to treat the defence suggestion “light-heartedly given the nature of the charges,” he would only grant the variation if Lafferty agreed to an extra curfew being imposed.

He added: “I’m minded to impose a curfew from December 24 to January 1 and during that period, with some hesitation, he may consume alcohol in his own home”.

The judge warned that Lafferty would be breaching his bail terms if he is found to be intoxicated in public.