A County Tyrone man has appeared in court charged with an attack using a wooden plank which left the alleged victim in hospital for four weeks with a significant head injury.

Jason McNabb (35) of Aghnamoe Road, Dromore is charged with unlawfully and malicious causing grievous bodily harm on a male and having a wooden plank as a weapon.

The offences allegedly occurred on April 11 in Omagh.

A detective constable told Dungannon Magistrates Court the charges could be connected

He explained the alleged victim had been in a local pub where he was involved in an incident earlier on the night in question.

CCTV footage showed McNabb arrive at the bar and enter accompanied by another man.

Separate CCTV showed him walking nearby and lift a wooden plank.

The alleged victim was subsequently found a short distance away, lapsing in and out of consciousness with a head injury and bleeding heavily from his nose and mouth.

The plank was located and DNA matching both McNabb and the alleged victim was recovered from it, the court was told.

Due to the extent of injuries, the alleged victim spent three weeks in hospital and remains unwell.

While he is willing to work with police and provide a statement, he has, “Very little recall of what occurred due to the nature of the head injury but is trying his best.”

McNabb said the detective, left the area after the incident and was actively sought for five weeks.

He subsequently contacted his solicitor on Wednesday (18 May) who arranged for him to attend with police.

During this, said the detective: “He has shown no remorse and refused to name the male who allegedly accompanied him.”

Under defence cross-examination the detective confirmed he had since been advised McNabb works in a major construction project between Germany and Denmark, which operates on a rotation of four weeks on, four weeks off.

It was also confirmed there is no CCTV footage of the actual attack on the alleged victim.

The defence suggested his client could surrender his passport and Driving Licence, commit not to return to work and put forward two cash sureties totalling £10,000.

The detective confirmed he could agree to bail on these conditions and accepted the victim is, “well-known to police and is aware he will be interviewed in respect of the earlier incident in the pub".

Urging bail to be granted, the defence contended McNabb could be managed with appropriate conditions and referred to the faith those putting forward cash have in McNabb.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan stated: “This was a very serious incident although that in itself is not a reason to refuse bail. The plank alone means there is a significant case. The victim remains in a vulnerable state as do witnesses, but I feel this can be managed. The defendant can rest assured if there are any breaches, he will remain in custody until the case is dealt with.”

McNabb was remanded on £1000 bail, twice weekly reporting with police, surrender of passport and Driving Licence, £10,000 cash surety and no contact with the alleged victim or any witnesses.

He is also to be electronically tagged, observe a curfew from 10pm to 6am and is banned from entering named premises in the Omagh area.

The case will be mentioned again at Omagh Magistrates Court next month.