Couple appear on charges arising out of Rainey Street incident

Samuel Mark Gibson (23) and Joanne Dooey (22), whose address was given as Mark Street, Portrush, are accused of robbery of a mobile phone, assault causing actual bodily harm and making threats to kill on April 22.

Dooey is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon, a broken bottle, on the same date.

A PPS lawyer told the court that the incident happened at Rainey Street around 7pm on Monday and the injured party claimed he was attacked by Dooey with a broken bottle to get his mobile phone.

The lawyer said the injured party also claimed that Gibson had become involved in the attack to get his phone.

A defence solicitor alleged the injured party had been “trying to facilitate something” which he stood to gain from and if it had taken place would have been illegal.

An investigating police officer objected to bail being granted in both cases. She said there was concern Gibson would re-offend and that Dooey would leave the jurisdiction.

Refusing Gibson bail, District Judge Des Perry noted that Gibson had 84 previous convictions and remanded him in custody until May 22.

Mr Perry released Dooey on bail of £500 with conditions, including staying out of Magherafelt and reporting daily to police, to appear in court again on the same date.