Man accused of breaching bail 10 times making ‘complete mockery’ of the courts

Gerard Hegney is being prosecuted for allegedly slashing the neck of another man at the south Belfast flat last summer.

The 21-year-old appeared back at the city’s Magistrates Court on a new charge of criminal damage to his electronic tag.

Hegney’s lawyer claimed the monitoring device became tangled up in his bike as he tried to get back to the University Street address in time for his curfew on Tuesday night.

But according to police and the prosecution the tag was either cut or tampered with and had to be replaced.

Hegney has now allegedly breached his bail terms up to 10 times.

“He’s making a complete mockery of the courts,” a PSNI officer contended.

District Judge Mark McGarrity was told officers called at the defendant’s door near midnight, but got no reply.

Hegney was arrested when they returned at around 1am today (WEDNESDAY).

Defence barrister Sean O’Hare insisted his client had been in bed, unaware of the first attempt to rouse him.

Referring to the damaged tag, counsel added: He was delayed getting home and as he returned it became entangled in his bicycle chain.”

Hegney is already facing charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing an offensive weapon, namely a kitchen knife.

He was arrested after police found a man with a neck wound lying against a wall at the block of flats on July 20 last year.

Hegney claims he had been attacked by intruders as he cooked sausages in his apartment.

Mr O’Hare described the accused as having a number of “vulnerabilities”.

“The defendant was attacked by two men who broke into his home and chased him,” the barrister argued.

“One of them ended up with an injury... and for some reason he (Hegney) has been charged.”

It also emerged today that Hegney is facing further charges of assaulting PSNI officers dealing with a separate alleged bail breach earlier this year.

Despite acknowledging police objections, Mr McGarrity decided to release him again due to delays linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The judge warned: “If he breaches bail in any way, or appears back before me, I won’t re-admit him.”