Attempted murder accused found hiding in roof space, court told

A row of terrace houses with a group of people wearing white overalls standing in front of it. There is a black van parked in front of the houses and the back door is open, with a person standing at the back.

Martin Joseph Groogan was charged after a woman was found injured in a house in Altmore Drive on Saturday

Luke Sproule
Mid Ulster reporter, BBC News NI

A 43-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with the attempted murder of a woman in Dungannon.

Martin Joseph Groogan, of Gortin Crescent in the town, was charged after the woman was found injured in a house in Altmore Drive on Saturday.

Mr Groogan appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court on Monday morning where his solicitor said the defendant maintained his innocence and claimed the injuries to the woman had been caused by men who broke into the house.

A detective constable told the court the ambulance service arrived at the property to find the woman bleeding heavily from knife wounds to both legs.

He said first responders applied a tourniquet and that a crew from the air ambulance – which attended later – said this had saved the woman's life.

Enniskillen Courthouse. The building is white with stone window surrounds. It has four concrete pillars at the front door. There are black bollards outside. A red car is driving past. Behind the court is a brick building.

Martin Joseph Groogan, 43, appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court on Monday morning

'Just flipped'

The police officer said they spoke to the injured woman later in hospital and she gave an account of asking the defendant to leave the property.

She said he "just flipped" and "slashed her" and that he refused to phone an ambulance and threatened to attack her again.

The detective said when emergency crews arrived at Altmore Drive the defendant was not there, but follow-up inquiries later led them to an address in Armagh where he was found hiding in the roof space.

He claimed to police he had been asleep on the sofa when "three black males" kicked the door in and attacked the injured party.

The detective said Mr Groogan refused to give any other information about these men and when shown photos of the front door which was undamaged, said it must have been unlocked.

A defence solicitor said there was no application for bail for Mr Groogan, who is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon with intent.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court again on Wednesday.

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