Man held over party stabbing

Attempted murder accused refused bail

A MAN was stabbed five times at a house party, a court heard yesterday. One knife wound punctured his chest during the alleged bid to kill him at Rathmore Gardens in Antrim town early on Saturday morning, police said. Details emerged as 27-year-old Paul Catherwood was remanded in custody charged with attempted murder. He is also accused of slashing at two women during the incident. Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard the stabbed man required surgery after suffering multiple wounds. A detective constable said: “There were five injuries, one of the most severe punctured his chest quite close to his heart.” Opposing bail she said the incident was aggravated by alcohol and involved an alleged element of sectarianism. Catherwood, of Mourne View Park, Lisburn, Co Antrim, faces further counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and possession of an offensive weapon. The court heard he allegedly inflicted two knife wounds to the arm of one of the women. The detective added: “Another said she had to take evasive action to stop him when he was approaching her with the knife, making a slashing motion.” A defence solicitor said Catherwood was at a party in his sister’s home when a man arrived and started knocking on the windows. The lawyer claimed: “He was attacked with a hammer and went to defend himself.” District Judge Ken Nixon refused bail after citing the potential risk of re-offending. He remanded Catherwood in custody to appear again by video-link on June 6.

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