Pair remanded into custody following Fermanagh stabbing incident

Two Fermanagh men were remanded into custody on Monday accused of involvement in a stabbing incident. 

Appearing side by side in the dock at Enniskillen Magistrates Court, Brendan McClaughlin and Peter Smith, both 26-years-old, spoke only to confirm they understood their respective hatches. 

McLaughlin, from the Tempo Road, Tempo, faces two counts of attempted murder, one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and aggravated burglary on Saturday, October 8 while Smith, from Sycamore Drive, Enniskillen, is charged with one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and a further count of aggravated burglary.

While none of the facts of giving rise to the allegations were opened in court, a police constable gave evidence that she believed she could connect both defendants to the charges.

The charges are in connection with an assault that occurred in Lisnaskea in the early hours of Saturday 8 October where three men aged 29, 22 and 22 received stabbing injuries which required hospital treatment but were not life threatening. 

McLaughlin appeared with a heavily bandaged right hand and although his defence barrister Alan Blackburn asked the officer if she could confirm the injuries had been sustained in the incident, she told the court McLaughlin had given two "no comment" police interviews so could not say one way or other. 

The lawyer also suggested McLaughlin had himself received hospital treatment, the officer accepted he had "obvious injuries."

As no bail applications were lodged on their behalf's, 

District Judge Nigel Broderick, remanded both men into custody to appear again via videolink on 24 October. 

Mr Blackburn asked the judge if McLaughlin's girlfriend could be permitted a short visit before he was taken to Maghaberry but Judge Broderick said that was a matter for the Prison Service and "beyond my control."