An assault victim remains in hospital in a medically induced coma with doctors fearing life or death “could go either way,” a court has heard.
At Coleraine Magistrates Court on Monday, Barry Heaney (53) confirmed his identify and that he understood a single charge.
Heaney, from Riverside in Antrim, is accused attempted murder on January 24.
It is understood the victim was subjected to an assault in the Menin Road area of Antrim on Friday.
“Is this capable of moving from an attempt,” District Judge Peter King asked and a detective told him treating doctors have informed police “it could go either way”.
“The injured party remains in a medically induced coma,” he told the court adding that “they did try to take him off sedation yesterday but that didn’t go well so they had to sedate him again.”
“They’re just going to have to take it slowly.”
Defence counsel Brendan Kearney confirmed he was not applying for bail on behalf of Heaney and accordingly, Judge King remanded him into custody, ordering him to appear again on February 11.