Burglary accused '˜made himself a meal'

A man accused of breaking into his mother's house was making himself something to eat when police arrived, a court has heard.
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Liam Christopher Harkin, whose address was given on court papers as Bond’s Hill, is charged with burglary with intent to steal and breaching a Non-Molestation Order.

The charges relate to an alleged incident in the early hours of November 18. Derry Magistrate’s Court heard police were called to the Carnhill area after a neighbour heard a window being smashed. Police attended a found a window of the property smashed and a chair underneath it.

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There was also blood found on the window sill and the glass. Officers knocked on the front door and it is alleged Harkin answered it. The court heard he had made himself something to eat and there was blood over the kitchen floor, the living room and hallway.

A Non-Molestation Order is currently in place which bans the 25-year-old from going within 250 metres of his mother’s home address. Harkin was arrested and released on police bail.

However, he was arrested again four days later for breaching the conditions of bail by consuming alcohol.

Police opposed bail for fear of further offences and fears that he will not be able to abide by conditions.

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Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott told the court his client has issues with alcohol and ‘finds it difficult not to drink’. He added the original offence involved Harkin ‘going into his mother’s house and making himself some sausages’. District Judge Barney McElholm released the 25-year-old on bail with a number of conditions to appear in court again on December 15.