Real life ‘Cinderella’ breached bail conditions

AN alleged Bushmills drug dealer - charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily injury to police officers by driving a car dangerously trying to escape from the PSNI whilst cornered in a north coast picnic area - has been sent into custody for breaching a bail curfew by 17 minutes.
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The teen who failed to get home in time before the end of his curfew has been likened to a real-life “Cinderella” by Coleraine District Judge Liam McNally.

And in an another analogy of the famous tale, a defence solicitor for Nathan Robert McIntyre (18), of Heronshaw, said in his client’s case there was an “absence of a carriage” to whisk him to his flat and said McIntyre wished to apologise for the lapse.

Coleraine Magistrates Court heard on July 27 that McIntyre - who a police officer said had “contempt for anyone in authority” - had been released from custody in June following an earlier breach of his curfew.

McIntyre is charged with a range of offences relating to incidents at Magheracross picnic area and the Dunluce Road areas of Portrush, on February 16 this year.

Charges include driving whilst unfit; possession of cannabis with intent to supply; being concerned in the supply of herbal cannabis and diazepam; assault on police and causing damage to police property.

The charges are related to an alleged incident when police pursued a car which turned in to the picnic area. The car accelerated through grass and a man jumped out before the car allegedly drove towards officers and crashed in to a sign. A bag containing £2000 worth of cannabis was recovered at the scene.

Judge McNally said he didn’t really want to return the accused to custody because he was 17 minutes late but the previous breach meant that even if it had been just one minute he had no alternative.

Remanding McIntyre into custody and adjourning the case to mid-August, he added: “He cannot breach these bail conditions and think that he is not going to pay the penalty”.