A 23-YEAR-OLD man currently awaiting sentence for manslaughter had an application for bail refused.
Jordan Snoddy will be sentenced in two weeks time for causing the death of Robert Molloy-Jones, who died following an altercation in the Tiger's Bay area of Belfast in June 2018.
Snoddy, whose address is the subject of a reporting restriction, applied to be released on bail ahead of sentencing.
His barrister Declan Quinn made the application at Belfast Crown Court, where Snoddy stood trial earlier this year on a charge of murdering Mr Molloy-Jones. Following the two-week trial, Snoddy was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter.
The 30-year old father-of-one died after he was assaulted by Snoddy in the Parkmount Street area on the evening of June 28, 2018. Snoddy made the case he was acting in self-defence after Mr Molloy-Jones punched him and tried to steal a bag of Diazepam from him.
The bail application was made to Judge David McFarland, who presided over the trial, with Mr Quinn saying it was made on the grounds of allowing Probation "to see him in his home setting with his family" ahead of compiling his pre-sentence report.
Saying Snoddy has been in custody "for a very significant amount of time to date", Mr Quinn revealed his client had put forward to cash sureties totalling £2,000.
Describing a risk of flight as "minimal", Mr Quinn said there was "no risk" of either interfering with witnesses or him failing to attend court for sentencing.
When asked what the Crown's stance was, prosecuting barrister James Johnston said that whilst Snoddy had no family outside the jurisdiction, police were still concerned he presented a flight risk.
Judge McFarland said he felt there was a possibility Snoddy would not turn up at court for sentencing.
He then raised his "main concern" about granting bail, and said: "I appreciate he is off drugs but he is off drugs because he is in an environment where drugs are not readily available.
"I fear he could fall back into a serious addiction issue ... and possibly commit further offences."
Bail was refused and Snoddy was returned back into custody ahead of sentencing on March 4.
