A Derry court today heard a house in Creggan had blood-spattered walls and ceilings after a vicious attack.
When police arrived at the house, they arrested a 36-year-old man who was bare-chested and soaked in blood.
That man, Martin Neeson, of Magowan Park, appeared before Derry Magistrates Court today via video link from prison to apply for bail.
Neeson is charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knife, with the intent to commit an indictable offence.
The offences took place on August 28 this year.
The court heard that at 3.57am on the day in question, police received a 999 call from a woman who said that her friend had been attacked in Magowan Park in Creggan.
She told police that he was ‘probably dead and covered in blood’.
A man, who it emerged was Neeson, could be overheard in the background shouting that he had acted in self-defence.
A police officer told the court that the victim was still critically ill on life support in hospital.
Police objected to Neeson’s release on the grounds that there is a risk of interference with witnesses, risk of reoffending and to protect the public and Neeson himself.
Seamus Quigley, defence solicitor, said that Neeson had admitted he used ‘physical violence’ against the victim but said he claimed he had acted in self-defence and that while he had inflicted some of the injuries, the victim had fallen downstairs causing further injuries.
Neeson was remanded in custody and the matter will be back before the court again on September 29.
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