Omagh man 'punched officers before escaping custody' in Strabane

The case was heard at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court

A County Tyrone man allegedly dragged a PSNI sergeant into a custody cell and carried out a serious assault, before locking him in and then escaping from custody.

Ruairi McGuigan, 41, from Coolnagard Hollow, Omagh, is initially charged with assaulting a female.

Once in custody he allegedly assaulted a civilian detention officer and caused actual bodily harm to a police sergeant.

Bail for Mr McGuigan was refused.

A police officer told Enniskillen Magistrates' Court all charges could be connected.

He explained that at 04:30 GMT on 10 March, police attended an address in Killeter where Mr McGuigan was allegedly fighting.

On arrival, the female occupant said a van had arrived at the property earlier and two men attempted to coax Mr McGuigan outside. He allegedly shouted he would kill them.

They left, but another male arrived who became involved in an argument with Mr McGuigan.

The court heard that when the occupant tried to break this up, Mr McGuigan allegedly "lifted his fist to the female, putting her in fear of immediate violence and threatened to "bash her head in".

Mr McGuigan was arrested but was immediately, "awkward and uncooperative".

The incident is alleged to have taken place at Strabane PSNI station in Co Tyrone

'Irate and aggressive'

"He became limp and had to be carried to the PSNI vehicle, kicking out at an officer," the court heard.

It was alleged that Mr McGuigan remained "irate and aggressive" and due to his behaviour was placed directly into a cell at Strabane police station.

At one point, five officers were required to remove some of his clothing to prevent harm to himself.

It was hoped he would calm down. However, he began yelling out, demanding to be released.

The court heard a struggle ensued in which Mr McGuigan grabbed the custody sergeant and refused to let him go before punching him several times to the head.

A female civilian detention officer tried to reason with Mr McGuigan, but the court heard he, "punched her straight to the head with some force".

It was claimed he managed to get the sergeant into a corner, punching him up to 10 times and kneed [him] twice to the head.

Mr McGuigan walked out of the cell, closed the door and locked the sergeant in.

This left Mr McGuigan alone with the civilian officer who "was in extreme fear and opened the door, hoping more officers would arrive".

The court heard the defendant pushed past the civilian officer and escaped into the main station precinct, where three police officers responding to the emergency call for assistance were confronted by him wearing only underwear.

He was restrained and returned to the cell.

Opposing bail, the police officer said that "after an arrest for assault the defendant continued offending".

"He didn't want to go into the police station and he used several methods, including injury to himself, force and violence to get out," the officer added.

"He locked a sergeant in a cell after a sustained assault.

"He punched the cell door about 50 times."

Under cross-examination, the police officer said Mr McGuigan has since "mellowed, but I can't say if he has been cooperative".

A defence barrister accepted the bail application was difficult as, "clearly this was an unsavoury incident in which no-one stood to gain anything".

"Things have now settled down," the barrister said.

"Something triggered the defendant to behave as he did and he could be managed in the community."

However, refusing bail, the district judge remarked that the "allegations are a display of extreme violence".

Mr McGuigan will appear again by video-link at Strabane Magistrates' Court on 4 April.