Man accused of firing crossbow bolt through victim's face has bail refused
A man charged in connection with an incident when a crossbow bolt was shot through a man's cheek in Ballymena, has had a bail application refused.
Matthew Allison (42), of Glenarm Court, Ballymena, was before the town's Magistrates' Court.
He is charged with possessing an offensive weapon - a crossbow - with intent to commit grievous bodily harm; wounding Darren Moore with intent to do him grievous bodily harm; and attempting to wound a second man with intent to so him grievous bodily harm.
The charges relate to incidents at Glenarm Court in Ballymena on Friday August 8 this year. Police had received a report at 6.40pm.
The injured man - Darren Moore - who is 55 years old - was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries.
Moore was a former football player with Crusaders in Belfast. Moore has several court convictions.
A police officer told an earlier court Moore had an operation to have the crossbow bolt removed and released himself from hospital.
The court was told the defendant fired the crossbow indiscriminately from a window to try and scare off a man.
A defence solicitor said the defendant accepts he fired the crossbow.
He said the injured man was discharged from hospital a short time after the incident.
He said the crossbow was fired through the man's face and it was seen in a video.
At the latest court a police officer said the crossbow was fired from an upstairs flat. Moore had been standing below. Armed response officers attended.
Allison told police that following an argument he saw a person with a crossbow and then Allison got a crossbow and fired a bolt through a door into the hallway and heard a resident shout that he had just missed his head.
Allison claimed a person said he was going to call people including Moore and he heard the word "shotgun".
He then saw two people including Moore arrive outside. He was aware of Moore and was "afraid he was going to be shot" and Allison "believed he saw Moore with a handgun".
The defendant claimed he fired an unaimed crossbow shot towards Moore out the window in an attempt to scare him and did not realise he had hit him.
Allison said he had been petrified that he was going to be killed by the men who arrived at the address.
The defendant has 48 previous convictions including possession of an offensive weapon.
A defence solicitor said the defendant made admissions that he acted in self defence.
District Judge Nigel Broderick viewed a photo of the bolt through Moore's jaw and told Allison it was "there but for the grace of God you didn't hit him anywhere else because this could easily have been a murder case".
Bail was refused. The defendant was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to January 15.