Four accused of battering man who was also struck by car denied bail

FOUR north Antrim men accused of a “vicious attack” in which their alleged victim was kicked about the head and body before a car “shunted him up the footpath” were refused bail at Antrim Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said he had concerns that if freed Jarlath Jones (23), Jake McClafferty (24), Tyrone McCormick (22) and Sean Healy (32) could interfere with the investigation.

All four are jointly accused of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Paul O’Kane, driving a Mazda car while unfit, failing to report a collision and failing to remain at the scene.

McCormick, from Glenville Crescent i n Cushendall, and Jones, from Beachlands in Carnlough, both face four counts of common assault and two of causing actual bodily harm.

McClafferty, from Rockfield Row, Cargan, faces five assault charges and one of ABH. Healy, from Kilnadore Crescent, also in Cushendall, faces six counts

The Armada bar in Armoy

of common assault. McClafferty and McCormick were also charged with obstructing police and the theft of an envelope and handbag, with all charges allegedly committed on August 18.

A detective constable told the court he believed he could connect all four to the charges.

Police objected to bail amid fears the defendants would interfere with witnesses or with the ongoing investigation.

The officer outlined how the victim was attacked outside a bar on Main Street in Armoy at around 1.10am and was “repeatedly kicked about the head and body until he was unconscious”.

He claimed that while he lay unconscious face down on the footpath, “one of the defendants, I believe Mr Healy, approached Mr O’Kane, raised his head off the ground and bit his nose”.

The detective said CCTV footage of the incident showed staff and customers coming out from the bar to assist the victim.

The footage then shows a car “on the footpath colliding with Mr O’Kane, who is still on the floor, and shunts him up the footpath”.

“The witnesses would say that the four males involved in the assault get out of the car and then proceeded to assault the other victims named,” the officer said.

The court heard the car left the scene and was located miles away at Magherahoney, almost two hours later.

The defendants were arrested nearby — McCormick hiding under a bin, McClafferty below a car, and Jones and Healy in a field.

The officer revealed that police believe the four had “swapped clothing” by then. One defendant had only one shoe and Jones was wearing “two right shoes”. Three others, said the officer, have not been found.

He told Judge Broderick that Mr O’Kane had suffered “numerous cuts and bruises” but has since been discharged from hospital.

The detective said none of the defendants had admitted being the driver in police interviews.

Jones had remained silent, while the others had said they were in the car.

The detective told the court police suspected Jones had been driving the car when it struck Mr O’Kane, as Healy claimed McCormick and McClafferty were also in passenger seats, it was registered to his mother, and he was a named driver in the insurance policy. However, police are awaiting the results of forensic tests.

Describing it as a “vicious attack,” Judge Broderick said he was refusing bail on the grounds of a risk they would interfere with the investigation. All four will appear at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on September 16.