Shooting victim accused of assault

Jonathan Simpson, with an address outside the city, is further charged with making a threat to kill his mother on May 8.

An investigating officer told Derry Magistrate’s Court he believed he could connect Simpson to the charges.

He said that police were not objecting to bail but had a number of ‘concerns’.

The officer said the defendant was shot in a ‘vicious manner’ in November last year while living in the Brandywell area’.

He told the court it is ‘no longer safe’ for Simpson to live in the city and he had been housed in a different town.

However, the officer said the 24-year-old had been staying in the Brandywell area again.

He revealed the threat is still live and it would ‘not take much motivation for those who shot him to shoot him again’.

District Judge Barney McElholm released the 24-year-old on his own bail of £500 to reside outside the city.

He also banned Simpson from entering Derry and from contacting his mother.

The case will be mentioned again next month.