Ireland's Eye: What's going on in the old sod

Crazy in Love

A Killyclogher man's attempts to win the heart of a local woman on St. Valentine's Day turned sour after he was remanded in custody on charges of making threats to kill, assault and harassment.

Dermot Logue appeared before Omagh Magistrates Court last week.  A police officer told the court that the offenses arose when Logue visited the Tirquin Road home of a woman with whom he wanted to set up house with.

She had rejected his advances, which have allegedly included letters and phone calls over a period of several years.

The court heard that Logue was refusing to leave the garden of the home and was banging on the door when he arrived at the house.

"It was reported that the defendant was causing a nuisance and banging on the door. When police arrived he was being restrained and was removed from the area," said the officer.

The court heard Logue accused a man who answered the door of being an “imposter” and had told the woman, who the investigating officer said was expecting a child, that she still had time to “get rid of it” and live with him.

Logue had stated that he wished to buy a plot of land for the woman and himself to live in.  He was subsequently told to calm down by the woman's father, but instead was said to have aggressively stood up to him.

"He (Logue) had to be restrained and was heavily intoxicated. A complaint was made the following morning by the woman who said she was frightened and concerned to be living in the same area," the officer continued.

Logue denied making the threats to kill and harassment in an initial statement, but admitted writing and sending the letters and phoning and calling at the home of the woman.

Police objected to bail, saying that if it was granted it could lead to further offenses. An investigating officer also described Logue's behavior as unpredictable.

He said the woman who alleges that she is being harassed by Logue had considered leaving the Tirquin Road area with her family as they believed that Logue posed a threat. The court heard that Logue is living with his mother and is around 200 meters from the home occupied by the alleged injured party.

However, defense solicitor Michael Fahy, cross-examining the officer, questioned why the alleged injured party had not made contact with police for assistance previously.

He said that there had been no interference with witnesses in the past and that it was in the power of the court to issue bail conditions, including the power of restriction to enter certain areas.

"The defendant is absolutely adamant that he will adhere to the conditions of bail," he said.

Rejecting the bail application, District Judge Greg McCourt expressed concern that there could be potential interference of witnesses.

Logue was remanded in custody to appear again at Omagh Magistrates Court via videolink on March 16.

 
Ulster Herald

 
Holiday Cuts

TRIM town councilors who are attending St. Patrick's Day celebrations abroad are to fund their trips from their own pocket, following the council's decision to axe funding for foreign travel in the 2010 budget.

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Nster.com