Man shot by police appears in court accused of attempted murder

by Q Radio News

A man has appeared at Londonderry Magistrate's Court charged with the attempted murder of a PSNI officer following an incident where a man was shot by police and an officer stabbed.

Noel David Quigley (42) of Celandine Court in Derry faced one charge of attempted murder that was said to have occurred on April 17.

A police officer connected Quigley to the charge and objected to bail.

A police officer also told the court police were called to an address after Quigley had phoned 999 threatening to self-harm.

But when police arrived Quigley was sitting in a chair holding a knife in each hand and threatening to cut his throat.

They claimed officers tried to talk him into placing the knives down but he refused and then 'irritant spray' was used but to no avail.

Quigley was then said to have stood up 'stabbing and slashing at an officer about the head'.

The court was told that the attack only ended when an officer discharged his firearm and Quigley was then taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

Bail was opposed due to the fear of re-offending as the officer cited Quigley's 15 previous convictions for assaulting police.

The officer said he had threatened to stab officers with syringes in the past and also bit officers and claimed he had Aids.

They also opposed bail on the grounds that Quigley was a danger to himself and the general public as it was claimed most of his offending occurred when police were called to assist him.

Defence counsel Eoghan Devlin asked the officer why had the objections to bail changed since a defence solicitor had talked to police last night but they said they were unaware of prior conversations. 

The barrister said that Quigley had called the police as he intended to kill himself and did not want his 'decomposing body' found later.

Mr Devlin said the defendant had been shot and the bullet had gone through his arm into his chest, into a lung and exited at his back breaking three ribs.

He added that police objections to bail seemed to be 'a moveable feast'.

The barrister said his client had been arrested in the Intensive Care Unit and had made a statement in which he said he could recall a 'struggle with police' but said that he was not trying to strike any officer.

He also disputed the alleged injuries to the officer saying that none of those allegations had been put to his client.

At this point Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes adjourned the case until he could see a medical report on the officer's injuries.

After a period the judge said he would adjourn the bail application until tomorrow.