Man accused of possessing a crossbow with intent to commit GBH is barred from Lurgan, a Craigavon judge rules

The 30-year-old appeared in custody in the dock at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday.

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Ryan O’Connor, of Willowfield Crescent, Craigavon is accused of a number of charges including possessing an offensive weapon, namely a crossbow, with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely grievous bodily harm aggravated by domestic abuse.

He was also charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to a woman on September 3 and to another woman on August 31 this year.

He faces a fourth charge of criminal damage in that he unlawfully destroyed ornaments belonging to the first woman.

Opposing bail, a PSNI officer told the court that on Thursday, September 3 police were tasked to Willowfield Crescent following a report from a woman asking that her son be removed from the address.

When police arrived the defendant was present. The complainant returned to the address when she saw police.

Officers noted a laceration to the top of her head which was around 2-3cms in length and ‘was actively bleeding’.

She told police that she and the defendant had ‘gone out’ that morning and when they returned he had ‘went mad’ and attacked her.

She told police she didn’t know how she sustained the injury.

“She further states she was laying on the floor injured when her son began kicking the table in the hall causing the glass to smash. He then went into the front living room where he began smashing ornaments belonging to the complainant,” the officer said.

Police saw a crossbow in the kitchen on a dog bed. There was also a crossbow bolt on the other side of the kitchen ‘bent towards the tip with blood on the stem of this bolt’. Spots of blood were observed across the kitchen floor.

“There has been no confirmed account provided that the crossbow was used during this incident,” said the officer adding the complainant confirmed it belonged to her son.

The complainant’s sister told police of an incident on August 31 this year. The defendant is accused of being verbally abusive and when he was challenged, he allegedly punched the second woman to the face and chest and kicked her on the chest when she fell to the ground.

The court heard both complainants have made statements. Bail was opposed due to the risk of reoffending. The police officer added both parents are refusing to take O’Connor so no bail address is available.

Defence barrister Mr Damien Halleron said efforts are being made to find an address for O’Connor outside the Lurgan area, with a potential address in Belfast.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan told O’Connor the court is faced with “allegations of very serious offending involving your mother and your aunt”.

“There’s a weapon found at the property and there’s blood on it. At the minute that cannot be attributed to your actions bar the fact you accept you own it,” he said.

He granted bail. O’Connor was remanded into custody with bail fixed at £300 pending a suitable address approved by the PSNI.

He is excluded from Lurgan and barred from contacting both complainants.

He is also prohibited from entering licensed premises and consuming or possessing alcohol.

The case was adjourned until October 2.