Thug's bail revoked days after release
Editorial Department • Published 16 Feb 2012 13:00
A violent thug who attacked his own granny and is "highly likely" to strike again is back behind bars.
Last week Jason Magerr, of Hillview Park, Enniskillen, was jailed for 10 months after admitting a series of assaults. However, he was released on bail pending the outcome of an appeal against the prison sentence despite Fermanagh Court hearing there was a "high likelihood" of him committing further offences.
But within a few days of his release he was back in custody for breaching a condition of his bail prohibiting him from drinking alcohol.
Magerr appeared at Fermanagh Court last Monday week and admitted carrying out a series of violent attacks on police and members of the public.
Describing himself as a dissident republican terrorist supporter, he carried out an unprovoked assault on an elderly visitor to Enniskillen and even hit his own granny.
He was jailed for 10 months but released on bail to appeal the sentence. As he left Enniskillen Courthouse he confronted a member of the public and a passing schoolgirl.
On Monday of this week he was back in the dock at Fermanagh Court, charged with breaching his bail and attempting to damage police property.
A prosecutor explained that Magerr had been out on bail for just five days when, on Saturday, February 11, at 7.15am, he telephoned the police, claiming he had been assaulted. Officers found him standing in the middle of the Cherrymount Roundabout at the junction of the Cornagrade and Irvinestown Roads in Enniskillen. He was staggering in and out of traffic and the police told him to get into the car as they were concerned for his safety. He was heavily intoxicated and very incoherent. He told the police he had been drinking all night.
Defence solicitor, Mr. Gary Smyth, said it was accepted Magerr had breached his bail by consuming alcohol. He felt he had been assaulted and unfortunately was drunk. He suffered from depression and had an appointment this week with the Community Mental Health Team.
"It's clear that alcohol on top of the condition he does suffer is not a good combination," added Mr. Smyth.
He explained that Magerr lived with his granny and she had not made a complaint about him assaulting her. The police were in the house and they saw him throwing a small bottle opener which hit her on the stomach.
Mr. Smyth submitted that Magerr had not committed any offence for a week.
The prosecutor described Magerr as a frequent, repeat offender and said the main reason for him getting bail last week was because he had managed to stay out of trouble for six weeks. It had now reached the stage "where he has managed four or five days" without committing an offence. It had reached the point where there were no bail conditions that Magerr would abide by.
The prosecutor told the court that when Magerr was arrested on Saturday he shouted: "Up the 'RA. F--k off you PSNI scum bastards. I'm an Irish Republican."
Magerr continued to be aggressive and abusive and when placed in a cell at Enniskillen Police Station he flushed a blanket down the toilet and punched a security camera. He was later interviewed and said he could not remember anything about the incident.
Objecting to Magerr being re-admitted to bail on the basis that he was likely to commit further offences, the prosecutor said the pattern of his behaviour on this occasion reflected his previous offending and was "of a very similar nature".
District Judge Benita Boyd said it was obvious Magerr had an on-going drink problem and she had no option but to revoke his bail.
She remanded Magerr in custody to appear at Fermanagh Court by video link on March 12.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 16 Feb 12
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