Two men charged with attempting to hijack the car of a district nurse

Daryl Cassidy, (18), of Rose Court and 21-year-old Padraig Brolly, of Drumachoe Park, Limvady, are charged with attempted hijacking on June 30.

Brolly is further charged with causing damage to a number of cars, assaulting police and possessing Diazepam.

The charges relate to an alleged incident in the Brookdale Park area of Galliagh.

A bail application for Cassidy was adjourned until later this week to allow police to check an address, an application in respect of Brolly was objected to.

Derry Magistrate’s Court heard allegations that a resident reported a number of males banging at his door in the early hours of the morning and were shouting out a woman’s name.

It is alleged that the resident observed Brolly being assaulted and as he walked away kicked a number of wing mirrors off cars.

The court heard further allegations that he threw a brick through the back window of a car.

An investigating officer said that thousands of pounds worth of damage had been caused to the vehicles.

In relation to the attempted hijacking, the court heard that the complainant is a district nurse who was passing by the area on her way home after finishing her shift.

It is alleged that a man jumped out in front of her car, causing her to slam on the brakes.

He allegedly told her to get out of the car, however fearing for her safety she drove around him.

The court heard allegations a second male jumped out in front of her car and banged on the window, telling her to ‘get out of the f***ing car’.

Both males were allegedly arrested a short distance away.

Brolly was searched on arrival at the police station and it is alleged he had 31 Diazepam tablets ‘secreted in his rear end’.

During interview, the 21-year-old said the drugs were for personal use and that he had consumed half a bottle of vodka, WKD and five or six of the Diazepam that day. He denied causing damage to the cars and said that all the witnesses were lying and ‘looking after their own’.

Opposing bail, the investigating officer said Brolly has 53 previous convictions and police believe there is a risk of further offences.

He added that the defendant has a history of breaching bail conditions.

Defence counsel Ben Thompson said there was no identification evidence linking his client to the attempted hijacking and while it ‘must have been terrifying for the woman’ there was very little sophistication in the attempted hijacking.

He said Brolly was prepared to take part in an identification procedure, but at present he is ‘entitled to the presumption of innocence’.

Mr Thompson told the court that the proposed bail address was in Limavady with the defendant’s mother, who has previously shown herself responsible by reporting bail breaches to police.

Deputy District Stephen Keown refused bail due to the ‘very high risk of reoffending’ which could not be managed by bail conditions.

Brolly was remanded in custody to appear in court again on July 16.