REMANDED | 

Barber accused of hammer attack on partner back in court over alleged bail breach

Gary Herron claimed his sister had been living at the address and had used the phone

Yesterday at 15:13

A barber accused of attacking his former partner with a hammer and threatening to destroy her home has been remanded in custody for breaching his bail conditions.

Gary Stephen Herron had been banned from possessing any internet-enabled device but, according to his ex, was frequently on Facebook.

A police officer told Ballymena Magistrates Court on Saturday investigations showed Herron had been using a virtual private network (VPN) to access the internet via a phone.

The PSNI said it had linked the VPN to his home at Woodland Grove in Antrim.

He is facing trial next year for attempting to inflict GBH with intent, possessing a hammer with intent to cause GBH, possessing an offensive weapon, making a threat to damage property, engaging in an abusive behaviour and supplying the class A drug MDMA.

All the offences are said to have been committed on dates between March 1, 2022, and February 16 this year.

Appearing in court by video-link from police custody, Herron said his sister had been living at the address and had used the phone.

He claimed she had moved out in August or September, but Judge Rafferty told the court the profile had been accessed on dates outside of that.

The defence solicitor accepted Herron had tried to contact his alleged victim, but stressed there was no order to stop him from doing so.

He said: “That’s not the [bail] condition. The condition is not to have access to any device capable of accessing the internet.”

Remanding the defendant in custody, Judge Rafferty said “it may be an idea” to have his sister in court for the trial.