Northern Ireland

Pair freed on bail after being charged over stabbing of teen in Ballynahinch

Couple charged with causing GBH to 16-year-old boy

The court heard the boy was stabbed behind Ballynahinch Community Centre
The court heard the boy was stabbed behind Ballynahinch Community Centre

A Co Down couple have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a 16-year-old boy who was stabbed in the abdomen.

While 20-year-old Holly Kilmartin was not produced to Lisburn Magistrates Court, Joseph Skelly (20) appeared by videolink from police custody.

Both from Hillcrest Drive in Ballynahinch, they are jointly charged with inflicting GBH with intent and with possessing a weapon with intent to cause GBH.

Skelly is further charged with common assault and attempting to cause GBH with intent on a second 16-year-old, all alleged to have been committed on March 30.

A detective told the court that surgeons had to remove part of the 16-year-old victim’s bowel after he was stabbed.

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According to the police case, numerous witnesses identified Skelly as carrying a knife and also Kilmartin kicked the victim while he was on the ground.

She told the court that at around 7.25 on Saturday, police received a 999 call that a young male had been stabbed behind the community centre in Ballynahinch.

While that victim was allegedly stabbed to the lower abdomen by Skelly, the 20-year-old also allegedly tried to stab another teenager and punched a 16-year-old girl “a number of times”.

She told the court detectives had taken statements from witnesses who claimed that “Skelly was carrying a knife” and while both Skelly and Kilmartin admitted to police during interviews they were at the scene, they both denied the offences.

In relation to Kilmartin, the officer said she could be freed on bail to live at an address in both Belfast along with other conditions including no contact with Skelly or any witness, observing a curfew and electronic tagging and she is barred from entering Ballynahinch.

District Judge Eamion King also ordered that she is to keep her mobile phone switched on and must answer it if and when police call her.

Imposing similar bail conditions, DJ King said bail had been granted but for Skelly to reside at an address approved by police.

Both Skelly and Kilmartin will appear again on April 4.