Man injured in alleged assault last weekend in a ‘stable condition’

The man was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital following the alleged incident in the Carlisle Road area of the city on May 3.

It is alleged that during the assault the victim was punched repeatedly and had his head stamped on six or seven times.

A bail application for two men and a 17-year-old youth charged with the assault has been adjourned for police to make further enquiries about the identity of one of the defendants.

John Sweeney, (38), and 24-year-old Stephen Sweeney, both of Baltimore House, Bridge Street, are jointly charged with the 17-year-old youth of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Derry Magistrate’s Court heard allegations there are a number of witnesses to the alleged assault, including a member of the public who was driving toward Carlisle Road with his partner and young child in the vehicle.

He reported seeing men involved in a scuffle and hearing a loud ‘slap’. The witness allegedly described two men who threw punches at another male until he collapsed in the doorway of a closed business.

He also allegedly observed one of the men stamping on the victims head six or seven times. The witness said the male was unconscious, his head was ‘bouncing off the ground’ and he was making no attempt to fight back.

The court heard the witness beeped his car horn at the males, who allegedly told him to ‘f*** off’.

During police interview, John Sweeney denied punching, kicking or harming the man in any way.

His co-accused, Stephen Sweeney, allegedly told police that he had been drinking and had no recollection of the alleged incident. However, the 24-year-old also allegedly admitted the description given matched him and if it was him he was ‘disgusted’.

The teen admitted being in the street, but also denied assaulting the man,

An investigating officer said police ‘strenuously opposed’ bail. She said that the address is within ‘spitting distance’ of the scene of the alleged assault and a number of witnesses reside close by. The officer added that there is an issue regarding the identity of one of the defendants.

She told the court Gardai had informed PSNI that a man called Stephen Sweeney had gone into a station in Sligo to report that a relative was allegedly using his identity.

The officer added there was also queries to be made to establish the true relationship between the defendants.

The bail application was adjourned and all three defendants will appear in court again on May 12.