A Derry man accused of the attempted armed robbery of a 24-hour convenience store in the city centre at the weekend has been denied bail.
Sean McElhinney, 19, from Magazine Street, is charged with attempted robbery, criminal damage, possession of a kitchen knife and possession of a kitchen knife with intent to cause an indictable offence.
Another male who was involved in the incident has not been identified by police.
The alleged armed robbery took place at Sunrise 24/7 shop on William Street at 7.30am on Saturday, September 24.
A police constable present at Derry Magistrates Court today said he could connect the accused to the charges.
An application for bail by the defence solicitor was opposed by the police.
On the morning of the incident, McElhinney was said to have entered the shop first with a scarf over his face and a knife in his possession.
The police constable said the defendant 'thrust the knife' in the direction of the shop worker saying he wanted money from the till and cigarettes or he 'would kill him'.
At this point the member of staff was said to have the presence of mind to run from the shop and lock the two men inside.
The court heard the defendant then lifted a metal bar, which the other 'offender' had brought inside, and smashed the window to make his escape.
A short time after making their escape the defendant was located on William Street.
He had a knife concealed in the waist band of his trousers and was subsequently arrested.
The other male involved in the robbery remains unidentified.
During police interview the defendant admitted to being in the shop, but denied any involvement in the incident.
McElhinney said he had fallen into the company of another male and 'was surprised that the other male produced a knife and demanded money'.
The court was told that CCTV shows the accused with the knife.
Nothing was stolen from Sunrise 24/7 but damage to the door amounts to £250.
Police believed that if the defendant was granted liberty he would fail to appear for his court appearance and would not meet his bail conditions.
In relation to a previous offence, the defendant was said to have breached his curfew twelve times.
"He sees himself as a free spirit, who does what he wants," the police constable said.
It was also feared that he may approach the other male involved in the incident in an attempt to evade justice.
The defendant was said to have twenty previous convictions, but none for robbery.
Police believed he would commit further offences if granted bail.
McElhinney is currently serving a suspended sentence for a criminal damage and resisting police conviction from earlier this year.
Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said his client made admissions that he had been at the shop during his first police interview.
He said the defendant expressed 'remorse and disgust with himself'.
The defence solicitor accepted his client does have a record and this was a 'very serious incident', but said he had never done anything of this nature in the past.
Mr Quigley told the court that a bail address had been provided for the defendant and suggested imposing strict bail conditions prohibiting the use of drink or drugs.
District Judge Barney McElholm said: "Anyone who carries out armed robbery in this jurisdiction should expect to serve a lengthy amount of time in custody."
He said that in the past the defendant has failed to appear in court and adhere to bail conditions.
Judge McElholm added that he doesn't believe the defendant would stay off drink or drugs.
Bail was refused and the defendant will appear before court again on October 13.
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