Crime & Law

Belfast man in court accused of biting off part of man’s ear

24-year-old remanded in custody after ear-biting incident

File image: PA

Sat Sep 16 2017 - 13:59

A Belfast man was remanded in custody on Saturday accused of biting part of a man's ear off in a fight.

Using crutches to walk into the dock of Belfast Magistrates Court, 24-year-old Thomas McCoubrey was allowed to remain seated during the brief hearing.

McCoubrey, with an address at a hostel on Victoria Street in the city, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Brendan Walker and possessing class A cocaine on Wednesday t his week.

While a police constable told the court he believed he could connect McCoubrey to the offences, the defendant spoke only to confirm that he understood the two charges against him.

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None of the circumstances surrounding the allegations were opened in court but it is understood the charges are in connection with an assault on a man in the Waring Street area of Belfast.

Appealing for witnesses to come forward in a statement released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Detective Sergeant Stephen Gardiner said: "Police received a report at approximately 10pm of an altercation between two males. One of the males, aged in his 30s, had part of his ear bitten off. The man was subsequently treated at hospital for his injury."

In court McCoubrey's defence solicitor said she was not applying for bail at this stage but asked for the case to be adjourned to later in the week so that a suitable bail address could be obtained. Remanding McCoubrey into custody and granting legal aid, District Judge Amanda Henderson ordered him to appear again via videolink on September 22nd next.

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