A man charged with attempting to kill a policewoman with an iron bar inside a Northern police station had consumed a large quantity of alcohol and drugs before the attack, a court heard yesterday.
Mr Ray Smullen ( 31), an unemployed bricklayer from Rathangan, Co Kildare, appeared at Lisburn Magistrates Court, Co Antrim, on seven charges, including attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.
The charges relate to an attack last week at Lisburn police station in which a 54-year-old policewoman, Ms Dorothy Sloan, was struck on the head.
Mr Smullen's solicitor, Mr Patrick Kelly, said his client had been to a party in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, where he had drunk 20 vodka and red bulls, some "alcopops" and had taken a gram of cocaine and amphetamines.
He had had no sleep for 48 hours and as a result "he was in a state of paranoia by the time he got to the police station", Mr Kelly told the court.
Det Sgt Patrick McAnestie, who charged Mr Smullen at Lisburn police station yesterday, said that he had replied "sorry" for the three of them when one of the charges was put to him.
Mr Smullen was also charged with attacking two other officers who tried to intervene causing gross bodily harm to one and actual bodily harm to the second. He was also charged with resisting arrest, aggravated burglary and possession of an offensive weapon.
The court was told that before the attack Mr Smullen had asked for an ambulance. After the attack Mr Smullen was taken to Knockbracken Healthcare Park for psychiatric evaluation.
Ms Sloan, who was left critically ill after the attack, regained consciousness last week and is now described as comfortable.
Mr Smullen was remanded in custody to appear by video link at Lisburn Magistrates Court on September 2nd next.