Man accused of instigating pub attack is freed on bail

A 19-YEAR-old Larne man accused of being a “main aggressor” in a group attack on a man in a Co Antrim bar has been released on bail — but warned to stay away from the injured party.

Joshua Wylie, from Linn Road, is one of a number of men facing an attempted murder charge after a man in his 40s was attacked by a gang wielding hammers and baseball bats. The group targeted their victim Darren Moore in McConnell’s bar in Doagh on March 15.

During yesterday’s bail application at Belfast High Court a prosecuting barrister said that while police were not objecting to bail, they had asked that a number of stringent conditions be imposed.

Telling Mr Justice Horner that Wylie faces serious charges including attempted murder, the prosecutor revealed several of Wylie’s co-accused had already been released on bail. The barrister said police viewed Wylie not just as being one of the attackers, but as a “main aggressor”.

Mr Justice Horner said: “The key issue in this case is keeping the applicant away from both the injured party and his co-accused.”

A number of bail conditions were imposed by Mr Justice Horner, including observing a 10pm to 7am curfew, being tagged, staying out of Ballyclare, reporting to police three times a week and having no contact — either direct or indirect — with Mr Moore.

Wylie’s fiancee was also asked to provide a £800 cash surety, and he was warned that if he breached bail she would be penalised financially.