THERE was some consternation in Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday as a defendant claimed he was being held against his free will.

Conor Barry McBarron (26), of Derrin Park, Enniskillen, appeared via videolink from Maghaberry Prison in relation to charges of common assault and a breach of a restraining order.

The common assault relates to an incident on December 18, 2019, while the breach took place between December 15 and 19 of the same year.

The purpose of the hearing was to transfer the case to the Crown Court; however, when asked the statutory questions during the hearing, McBarron declared that he had already made an admission of guilt, that he objected to all that was happening, that he was being held against his own free will, and that the preliminary enquiry was "irrelevant".

The defendant claimed that he knew there were music and songs made for him, but did not elaborate further, and said his case should be "thrown out".

At one juncture, the defendant told the court to "ask the computer" about the matter, with the reply from the courtroom being: "The computer wants to know if you are happy to transfer to the Crown Court?"

McBarron responded by saying: "The computer told me all of you are fired."

McBarron's solicitor, Michael Fahy, intervened in proceedings, and told the court that McBarron had spoken to a colleague beforehand, and the committal could be proceeded with.

McBarron still refused to answer the questions put to him, but District Judge Steven Keown was satisfied there was a case to answer.

The case will be heard next in Dungannon Crown Court on August 31, when McBarron will be allowed to enter his plea correctly.