North Belfast stabbing accused appears in court

By Q Radio News

A court's heard a woman allegedly stabbed her partner's ex-girlfriend up to 13 times at a planned meeting in north Belfast to "sort out their differences".

27 year old Nan Dunlop, of Beersbridge Road in the city, is accused of attempting to murder the alleged victim and inflicting wounds on another woman as part of a two-year feud.

Police revealed that the pair sustained injuries including a punctured lung and a lacerated windpipe.

But a lawyer for Ms Dunlop claimed she was stabbed with a screwdriver and had her tooth knocked out during an outburst of violence at York Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Ms Dunlop appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court today on charges of attempted murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knife. 

Appearing remotely from police custody, she confirmed that she understood the allegations against her.

A detective claimed the incident represented an escalation in a two-year dispute between the Dunlop and her current partner's ex.  

"It seems there was a premeditated meeting between the accused and victim to sort out (their) differences," he said.

"There was some kind of altercation in which the injured party received 13 stab wounds," he said.

A second alleged victim sustained lacerations to her neck and arm. Under cross-examination, the detective confirmed that the injured parties have not yet provided statements to police.

"One of the victims had a punctured lung, and the other one is still in hospital awaiting surgery on a laceration to the windpipe," he disclosed.

(Forensics at the scene on York Street in North Belfast. Pic: Alan Lewis)

Defence barrister Mark O'Connor argued that his client was threatened in the lead up to the encounter. He claimed others brought a range of weapons to the scene, including a knuckle duster, two knives, a screwdriver and a mallet.

Mr O'Connor argued that the alleged injured parties and their group of up to 10 men and women "massively outnumbered" Dunlop and her friends.

"(Ms Dunlop) says that when she arrived on the scene she was attacked immediately by the alleged injured party and other females," he told the court.

"While she was getting attacked other males arrived, one of them came at her with a screwdriver. He cut her to the head, cut her on the knee, and kicked her tooth out when she was lying on the ground."

According to Mr O'Connor the other group all fled when his client asked security guards to call police. Ms Dunlop was granted bail to live under curfew at an approved address outside Belfast.

Adjourning the case to April 15, Deputy District Judge Liam McStay banned her from contacting any witnesses or entering the north of the city. 

(Police at the scene in North Belfast. Pic: Alan Lewis)