A 29-year-old man has appeared in court charged in connection with an assault in city earlier this week that has left a father of seven fighting for his life.
Teddy Roulston, of Ballycolman Estate in Strabane, is charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on Peter Morrison.
The charge relates to an incident which occurred outside a pub in the lower end of Waterloo Street at around 9.00pm on Wednesday last.
Mr Morrison (36) is in a “critical but stable” condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, following the alleged incident in which he sustained a serious head injury.
The police officer leading the investigation told Derry Magistrates Court this morning, Mr Morrison was expected to remain sedated for at least another five days.
The court heard the two men had been out drinking and had fallen out.
The court was told both “made it up” before Roulston, a father of two, punched Mr Morrison on the chin knocking him to the ground.
The detective told the court Mr Roulston was knocked unconscious as a result of his head hitting the ground.
The court heard Roulston made no effort to help the injured party, left the scene and was arrested at his home in Strabane.
Defence solicitor, Sharon McBride, told the court Roulston and his family wished to express their sadness at what had happened to Mr Morrison and hoped he would make a full recovery.
Describing the alleged incident as “extremely serious,” Ms McBride said it fell under the “one punch” category.
District Judge Barney McElholm released Roulston on his own bail of £1,000 with one surety of £500.
He was also ordered to live at an address in Ballycolman Estate in Strabane, to be electronically tagged and to abide by a 7.00pm – 7.00am curfew.
He was also banned from consuming alcohol and non-prescribed drugs and told only to enter Derry for court appearances
He will due back in Derry Magistrates Court again on 10 July next.
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