Machete Charges Man 'Attacked Own Family'

A 23-year-old Derry man has appeared in court accused of attacking members of his family with a machete, the BBC has reported.

Londonderry Courthouse heard that the mother, brother and girlfriend of Stephen Patrick O'Kane all suffered slashing injuries after allegedly being attacked with a machete in the family home on Buncrana Road in Creggan early yesterday.

Mr O'Kane is charged with possessing a machete with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

A police officer told the court that Mr O'Kane's mother called 999 to tell the police about an ongoing fight between her two sons.

When officers arrived they found the defendant's brother outside the house, with a deep gash to his left shoulder.

The defendant's mother injured her right elbow while trying to separate her sons, and his girlfriend's left hand had been slashed.

One of the girlfriend's fingers was hanging off and she had lost a lot of blood.

She had three stitches at Altnagelvin Hospital, but because of concerns about tendon injuries she was transferred to the Ulster Hospital.

Mr O'Kane was also taken to Altnagelvin to be treated for a head injury which he said he got when his brother attacked him with a baseball bat.

The brothers would not make statements against each other, the police officer said, but their mother made a statement and a 60cm-long machete and a baseball bat were recovered.

Deputy District Judge Peter King refused bail, saying he was very concerned about a machete being used in a family dispute.

He remanded Mr O'Kane in custody, to appear by videolink on September 13.

(NE)