Man accused of accused of drug possession and assaulting another man, is to return from Lourdes to contest the charges, Craigavon court hears
A man accused of drug possession and assaulting another man, is to contest the charges when he returns from Lourdes in the summer time, Craigavon court has heard.
The 30-year-old man went to the Catholic pilgrimage site in the foot of the French Pyrenees earlier this year to work and for rehabilitation.
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Michael McKernan, with an address at College Drive in Belfast did not appear before Craigavon Magistrates Court.
He faces a number of charges including disorderly behaviour in Church Place, Lurgan on August 25 last year.
He is also accused of assaulting a man and possessing the Class C drug Bensiden on the same date.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan, who pointed out that the case was before the courts for the defendant’s attitude to the charges, asked: “This is the gentleman who is in Lourdes?”
McKernan’s barrister, Mr Damien Halleron, confirmed his client is still in Lourdes, however revealed that his instructing solicitor had managed to get in contact with him and received instructions in the case.
District Judge Ranaghan said: “He got off his knees for a short period?”
Mr Halleron, who had explained at a previous court that his client was working at the religious venue in France, said he had and was pleading guilty to the disorderly behaviour however the common assault and drugs charges are to be contested.
District Judge Ranaghan noted that McKernan isn’t due to return from Lourdes until July.
The case was adjourned until July 29 for the case to be contested.