Man appears at Court charged with making threat to kill

In the dock was Robert Andrew Bovaird (33), of Broighter Court, who appeared at a special sitting of the court on Monday.

Bovaird is charged with making a threat to kill a man on March 25.

The Magistrates’ Court heard allegations that Bovaird threatened a man via text messages.

In one message, it is alleged that he threatened to cut the man’s throat.

The court heard that the male recipient of the text message was very unsettled after receiving the message, and that he was taking the threat seriously and was in genuine fear.

District Judge Nigel Broderick, who heard the case, was told it was further alleged that Boivard sent messages to friends in which he claimed he was going to go round to the man’s house and carry out the threats.

An investigating officer told the court Bovaird was currently on bail accused of assaulting his ex-partner and Northern Ireland Housing Executive employees.

The officer added that Bovaird had breached the conditions of this bail by consuming alcohol, going within 100 metres of his ex-girlfriend’s home and by not residing at his bail address in Scotland.

The court heard allegations that in January, Bovaird went to the woman’s house in an extremely intoxicated state.

He allegedly had an argument with the woman and then left her home.

The following morning he appeared in the house while workmen were present and it is alleged the defendant threatened his ex-girlfriend and said he would ‘sort her out’.

He also allegedly was in possession of an iron bar and is accused of threatening the workmen with it.

Bovaird is further accused of brandishing a black handled knife during the alleged incident.

Opposing bail, the investigating officer said the defendant had a problem with alcohol and was likely to commit further offences if he continued to drink.

He also told the court Bovaird had breached bail on one previous occasion and had ’shown disregard’ for the conditions imposed.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said his client, who has a limited criminal record, accepted the breach of bail.

However, he said there was no suggestion Bovaird had contacted his ex-girlfriend.

District Judge Broderick said the “difficulty is that there is a pattern emerging between alcohol and threats to kill or threats of violence”.

The District Judge refused the bail application.

Bovaird was remanded in custody to appear in court again via videolink on April 21.