Woman forced to dial 999

A woman was forced to dial 999, after an incident at Antrim Street, in which a man attempted to stick a knife in her car tyre, it was claimed at the High Court.

The cyclist of Hawtree Park, Lisburn wearing a bullet-proof vest allegedly tried to attack a woman’s tyre.

Gary Byrne, 29, tried to stop the flow of traffic and then shed his clothes denies charges of disorderly behaviour, assault on police and possession of a bladed or pointed article in public over the incident near Antrim Street in December 8.

During a bail application, Conor Maguire, prosecuting, said officers went to the scene at Antrim Street. No knife was found on him and the vehicle was undamaged. The police uncovered a hard plastic, triangular-shaped shank object with pointed edges, the court heard.

Defence counsel Michael Boyd said: “Mr Byrne felt he had been cut off by a vehicle coming close to him and it appears he behaved in an inappropriate way,”

Granting bail, his Honour Judge Lynch said he was going to give Byrne a chance to prove himself.