Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Honeymooning US tourist faces three attempted murder charges after incident in Co Antrim bar
Man bailed after ‘admitting’ stab wounds
A US honeymooner was yesterday accused of attempted murder after three men were stabbed outside a rural pub.
The 31-year-old, who together with his wife arrived in Dublin last week, appeared in court charged over the alleged attack in Co Antrim.
Two men in their 30s and one in his 60s were stabbed in an incident at Main Street in Ballycarry, near Whitehead, last Saturday night.
Nicholas Keith Warner, from South Carolina, denies attempted murder and assaulting a fourth man.
The electrical engineer also pleaded not guilty to causing affray but admitted possessing a knife.
Warner, who sustained a broken leg in the incident, was helped by two PSNI officers as he walked on crutches from a cell van into Limavady Magistrates Court for his remand appearance.
His nurse wife Kaylee sat behind her husband in the dock during the hearing.
When asked by the court clerk if he understood the charges, the defendant replied “Yes, mam”.
A detective constable told Deputy District Judge Ted Magill he believed he could link Warner to the charges and he said alcohol was an issue in the case.
A defence solicitor said bail conditions proposed by police and the PPS were acceptable to the defendant.
He added: “He accepts he was the individual who caused the injuries. From the moment of his arrest prior to his interviews he accepted he possessed the knife to defend himself.
“This case will come down to the argument of reasonable force or otherwise and because he is a US citizen I would request that if possible the case could be fast-tracked.
“It is regrettable in that he is here on honeymoon and his employment as an electrical engineer is now is jeopardy.”
The defendant, from Morrow Lane in Summerville, was released on his own bail of £1,000 to appear at Ballymena Magistrates Court on September 6. As part of his agreed conditions he was ordered to hand over his passport, to observe an 8pm to 11am curfew and stay at an approved address.
The defendant, who will also be tagged, was further ordered not to leave Northern Ireland and not to contact the injured parties or witnesses.
He must also not possess or consume alcohol and agree to a preliminary breath test if asked to do so by police.
An additional bail condition is the defendant must not enter within the 30mph zone around Ballycarry.
The accused accepts he was the individual who caused the injuries DEFENCE SOLICITOR COURT YESTERDAY