Fivemiletown tractor 'rammed PSNI cars in farmyard attack'

The court heard that the incident in Fivemiletown last year caused up to £250,000 of damage

PSNI officers were trapped in a farmyard after a tractor rammed three of their cars as part of an alleged attempt to kill them, the High Court has heard.

Prosecutors said the policemen were deliberately targeted and forced to take cover during the attack in Fivemiletown last year.

The court heard it caused up to £250,000 worth of damage.

Matthew Nolan, 25, of Tattenabuddagh Lane, Fivemiletown, denies the charges.

He says he was at a pub in County Monaghan, drank up to 15 pints of beer and then walked home.

He was refused bail on two charges of attempted murder.

'Officer sheltered in cowshed'

Mr Nolan is also accused of threatening to kill police officers, three counts of criminal damage and further motoring offences in connection with the incident.

The court heard that police went to Mr Nolan's address shortly after midnight on 24 September last year, amid reports of a suspected drunk driver leaving the village in a Ford Fiesta.

As checks were carried out in a nearby farmyard, a tractor was allegedly driven directly at two of the officers.

They had to flee to avoid being struck, according to the prosecution.

A Crown lawyer said the tractor was "observed repeatedly driving forward and reversing at speed into three vehicles on multiple occasions, causing extensive damage believed to be in the region of £250,000".

"The force of the collision was so extreme that the cars in question were moved approximately 20 yards, with one of the armoured vehicles spun 180 degrees around," he added.

"They were left in a state they could not be driven and the officers were effectively trapped at the property."

When one of the policemen sheltered at a nearby cowshed, the tractor allegedly advanced directly towards him, ramming into gates which broke off and struck him on the leg.

Tractor engine revving

The court heard the tractor was again observed reversing and the driver was heard to shout abuse.

At that point, the police officer heard the engine revving and realised it was coming back in his direction.

"He felt there was nowhere for him to run to take cover; his only option was to go over to cattle feeding bars and get in behind the animals present there," the Crown lawyer added.

"The officer maintains that the driver of the tractor was attempting to kill him."

The court heard that when the vehicle finally reversed away the officer re-emerged and headed for the house to check on his colleagues.

During further searches of the area, police located a tractor and a Ford Fiesta with its number plates removed.

Mr Nolan, who was arrested the following day, is also charged with dangerous driving at Cooneen Road in Fivemiletown, driving when unfit through drink or drugs in the Main Street of the village, and driving while disqualified.

A defence barrister argued that his client has spent five-and-a-half months in custody and should now be released under conditions.

A £5,000 cash surety was offered in a bid to allay any concerns.

Refusing bail, however, Mr Justice Fowler identified a prima facie case that Mr Nolan poses a danger to the public.

The judge said: "Clearly on the facts there is a very serious risk of re-offending."