Keady attack: Man charged with grievous bodily harm with intent

A 34-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with grievous bodily harm with intent following an alleged assault in County Armagh.

Apostol Apostolov is also accused of dangerous driving and failing to stop for police in Keady on Friday morning.

A man was airlifted to hospital following the alleged attack and is in a critical but stable condition.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Apostolov told Lisburn Magistrates' Court he understood the charges.

Giving evidence during a contested bail application, Det Con Duffin told the court a 61-year-old man had been assaulted outside a shop on Victoria Street at about 11:15 BST on Friday.

According to witnesses there had been a verbal altercation between the man and Mr Apostolov.

After his arrest Mr Apostolov, who is Bulgarian, said in police interviews that there had been an argument and he had been assaulted but "he claimed to have no memory" of his own actions.

Witnesses at the scene recorded the registration of a Ford Galaxy car which Mr Apostolov was driving.

Police later spotted it on the Newry Road in Camlough and gave chase after it failed to stop, the court heard.

It later collided with a police car.

Refusing bail, Judge Amanda Brady remanded Mr Apostolov, whose address was given as c/o Patterson Rocks solicitors, Newry, into custody and adjourned the case until 10 May.