‘Vulnerable’ manallegedly subjectedto ‘torture’ in Port

Ryan Goligher (23), of Railway Road, Coleraine, and Paul Liam Johnston (26), of Coleraine Road, Portstewart, are charged with offences relating to an incident on March 12 this year.

Applying for bail, a defence solicitor for both men said the charges being faced are to be reduced to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and theft.

A police officer told the court the injured party is a “vulnerable adult with learning difficulties” who was left “severely traumatised” after being the victim of “physical and mental torture”.

During the 2am incident a knife was brandished and the man was assaulted, the officer added.

The court heard that the officer objected to bail saying the men’s addresses would still be in the Coleraine area close to the injured party.

District Judge Liam McNally said the two accused have already spent around nine months on remand in custody and he added that he would consider bail because of the reduction in the charges they are facing.

However, he said any bail addresses will have to be “at least ten miles” from Coleraine and the case was adjourned to November 16.