A man accused of stalking women in Lisburn has been released on bail.
Fahad Hatem Hussein Al-Dulaimi, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, has been charged with seven offences dating back to 2022 and is awaiting trial at Craigavon Crown Court.
Defence barrister Aaron Thompson launched an application for bail at Belfast Crown Court on Friday, which was granted by Judge Mark McGarrity.
Mr Thompson confirmed his 35-year old client has spent over a year on remand and that the case was that he “approached and followed, allegedly, a number of women in the Lisburn area”.
Crown barrister Samantha Madden told Judge McGarrity that bail was being opposed.
Ms Madden said that after spending a period in custody, Al-Dulaimi was released on bail earlier this year - but was recalled to prison on July 13 after breaching conditions.
She said that on June 16 he was admitted to the mental health unit at City Hospital in Belfast and whilst there, he lifted two forks and threatened to kill a fellow patient.
Judge McGarrity then raised the stalking charges levelled against Al-Dulaimi and asked the prosecutor if he had contacted any of the complainants in the case or “given them any difficulty” - to which Ms Madden replied “no, he hasn’t”.
She did, however, raise concerns for Al-Dulaimi’s safety and revealed that on July 9 he was picked up by police walking along the hard shoulder of the M1.
Judge McGarrity said that whilst he noted the Crown’s concerns, he felt any potential risks could be managed by “the tightening up of the bail terms”.
Releasing Al-Dulaimi on his own bail of £500, the judge ordered that he sign with police five times a week.
Other conditions re-imposed included a ban on him contacting the complainants in the case and ban on him entering Lisburn.
Al-Dulaimi was also ordered to attend Craigavon Crown Court on September 12 when his case is listed again.