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Bench warrant issued after man accused of church attack fails to turn up in court

St Patrick's Church in Portadown where the woman was attacked.
St Patrick's Church in Portadown where the woman was attacked. St Patrick's Church in Portadown where the woman was attacked.

A JUDGE has hit out after a man accused of robbing a pensioner in a Co Armagh church was freed on police bail.

Issuing a warrant for the arrest of 45-year-old Martin McGill when he failed to appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court, District Judge Rosie Watters heard that against objections from the investigating officer and a custody sergeant, a forensic medical officer deemed McGill as "not fit to be detained."

Giving evidence to the court, the detective constable said McGill suffers from diabetes and epilepsy and that despite having a low blood sugar level, "he refused to eat or take medication" so a police doctor came to the decision he wasn't fit to be held in custody.

Unemployed McGill, with an address at the Edward Street hostel in Portadown, was told to attend court today but defence barrister Conor O'Kane told the court he had not turned up.

"My solicitor rang the hostel this morning and was told that he had already left for the train station," said Mr O'Kane adding that hostel staff had also given McGill his train fare.

"I find it incredible that he has been released," said the District Judge, "I have never come across that."

McGill was due to appear on four charges alleging that he robbed £100 from a 74-year-old woman, attempted to steal donation money from St Patrick's church in Portadown, possessed a weapon, namely a crow bar with intent to commit robbery and going equipped with a crow bar for burglary or theft, all alleged to have been committed on 30 June this year.

In court today the detective said she believed she could connect McGill to the charges, adding that she had objected to the alleged robber being freed.

"Unfortunately against my wishes and the wishes of the custody sergeant...the FMO (police doctor) considered he would not be fit to be detained if he wasn't going to eat or take medication," said the police officer, confirming to the judge that McGill's refusal "was his choice."

"If the FMO couldn't deal with it he should have been taken, whilst in custody, to hospital and then he isn't here today - what a surprise that is," said Judge Watters adding "I think that's incredible, I have never, ever, ever come across that before."

While Mr O'Kane told the court he would have been applying for bail, the prosecution revealed that McGill is currently in breach of a licence leading DJ Watters to comment "he probably wouldn't have got bail."

"There will definitely be a warrant," said the judge.