A PSNI helicopter needed to be deployed to pursue the van through which a kidnap sufferer was allegedly hacked with a noticed and burned with cigarettes, the Excessive Courtroom in Belfast heard at the moment.
Prosecutors claimed the automobile evaded police thrice and went by purple lights throughout makes an attempt to carry it to a halt following the suspected abduction of a person in Co Tyrone.
Particulars emerged because the van’s registered proprietor mounted an software for bail.
Emmet Maguire, 23, of Davis Crescent in Newtownstewart, is one among 4 males accused of involvement in final week’s assault.
He faces costs of kidnapping, inflicting grievous bodily hurt with intent, felony injury, harmful driving, failing to cease for police and possessing a amount of hashish.
A lawyer representing prosecutors stated the sufferer was woken by intruders armed with hurls who broke into his dwelling within the village early on October 10.
He tried to cease them moving into his bed room, however was overpowered and assaulted earlier than being dragged outdoors and right into a ready van.
The person was allegedly pushed to numerous places whereas being kicked, punched and crushed with weapons.
“He was proven a noticed just like the sort used to chop wooden and advised that his head can be minimize off,” the prosecutor contended.
She stated the abductors proceeded to chop into his chest and again throughout an ordeal the place cigarettes have been additionally stubbed out on his pores and skin.
The person was deserted at an unknown location the place a passer-by discovered him and referred to as an ambulance.
He sustained a number of fractures to his again and ribs, deep lacerations above his eyes, potential inner bleeding and burns to his physique.
The court docket heard a van suspected of getting used within the assault was later recognized at places in Strabane, Lisburn and at last Hillsborough.
Police signalled for it to cease, but it surely took off a pace and went by quite a few purple lights, Crown counsel submitted.
She claimed Maguire deserted it in a forest carpark and fled on foot earlier than being discovered hiding in hedges.
Lord Justice Treacy was advised an preliminary inspection of the van registered in Maguire’s identify appeared to disclose the presence of blood.
Bloodied clothes was additionally allegedly situated on the defendant’s dwelling throughout searches carried out whereas the washer was on.
In interviews Maguire denied any involvement within the kidnapping and stated he was at dwelling asleep on the related time.
He claimed that he panicked later and drove off when police flashed their lights for him to cease.
Maguire’s bid to be launched from custody was placed on maintain till police full interviewing the injured social gathering.
Adjourning the case, Lord Justice Treacy noticed: “I believe this software may be very untimely.”