Thumb bitten off in violent clash to be incinerated

A man's thumb allegedly bitten off during a violent clash in Belfast is set to be incinerated, the High Court has heard.

The digit said to have been partially severed in a confrontation at a house in the east of the city cannot be reattached, a judge was told.

Details emerged during a bail application by a 24-year-old man accused of inflicting injuries in last week’s incident.

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Curtis Morrow, of McAllister Court in Belfast, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to one man and assault occasioning actual bodily harm to another.

He faces two further counts of common assault, criminal damage to a mirror, and possessing an offensive weapon, namely a metal pole, with intent.

Lawyers for Morrow, who appeared on crutches via prison video link, argued he acted in self-defence after being attacked by golf clubs.

The court heard how violence flared in the Cloverfield Street area on April 7.

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It was claimed that the accused had asked a man to leave a house linked to his partner due to suspicions about drugs.

But a short time later assaults were allegedly carried out when a group of people arrived at the property.

The judge was told part of one man’s thumb was bitten off, with efforts to sew it back on proving unsuccessful.

It is set to be incinerated after being kept for evidential purposes.

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Defence counsel Richard McConkey argued that Morrow was beaten with weapons, sustaining a broken foot and a serious head injury.

The barrister argued that if his client had “bitten down” on anything during the incident it was in self-defence.

However, Morrow’s attempt to secure release from custody was put on hold due to issues over his proposed living arrangements.

Mrs Justice Keegan agreed to adjourn the bail application generally.