A 49 YEAR OLD north Belfast man accused of intimidating his Catholic neighbour on Sunday night has been freed on £1,000 bail on condition he does not drink alcohol or approach the alleged victim.
In the High Court in Belfast, Mr Justice Campbell warned Mr William John Mitchell of Skegoneill Avenue that he faced immediate arrest if his neighbour reported him to police about further approaches.
Mr Mitchell, an unemployed taxi driver and father of four, denies intimidating his 20 year old neighbour, a student, and breaking his windows.
A prosecution lawyer said intimidation in the area was rife"
and that, while several Catholic families had left the street, Mr Mitchell's neighbour had decided to stay given the "prompt action of the police".
The court was told that last Sunday evening the student answered his front door and was allegedly confronted by Mr Mitchell who said. "If you want to stay here don't slobber". Counsel said that after closing his door, the man heard the front windows of his house being broken.
Mr Mitchell's lawyer, Mr John Cushnahan, said the alleged offences had all the hallmarks of a drunken incident", and while nothing sectarian had been said by Mr Mitchell, his neighbour could not be blamed for "thinking the worst".
Freeing Mr Mitchell on the bail on condition he did not drink, Mr Justice Campbell told Mr Mitchell his neighbour would be informed that if he, Mr Mitchell, contacted or said anything to him, he was to phone for the police immediately.