Man ‘flicked blood in police officer’s eyes and mouth’, court told

Details of the incident were outlined by a police officer in the case of Aiden James Doran at Ballymena Magistrates Court.

Doran (22), of Clonavon Terrace, faces charges of attempted arson endangering life; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; assault on police; threats to damage property; threats to kill; and criminal damage.

A PSNI officer told the court that police responded to reports of a domestic incident on June 22 and after gaining entry to the property, they saw the defendant stood at the top of the stairwell, with a considerable amount of smoke in the building after a carpet had been set alight.

They got him into the bathroom where he lashed out at a mirror, sustaining lacerations to his right hand. He then aggressively flicked his wounded arm at a police constable covering her in blood, which also went in her eyes and mouth.

Police also spoke to the injured party, a young foreign national female, who had been in a relationship with the defendant.

She told police Doran had accused her of cheating on him and had jumped on her and sat on her, causing her difficulty breathing.

He also punched and kicked the woman and was about to kick her again when there was “a snap” which resulted in the defendant dislocating his knee, the court heard.

Doran was remanded in custody until July 2 in order for a suitable address to be sourced ahead of a potential bail application.