Man due in court on Paul McCauley murder charge

He died in a home last month.

Describing the nature of Mr McCauley’s death as brutal and sectarian, the District Judge said he had to establish if there was a pattern in the defendant’s behaviour before deciding whether or not to release him on bail.

Piper John McClements, formerly known as Daryl Proctor, appeared at a special sitting of Derry Magistrate’s Court on Saturday.

He appeared in the dock wearing a hoodie, handcuffed and flanked by a police officer.

He is banned from contacting the McCauley family, banned from entering the Waterside except if accompanied by either of his parents or of travelling directly to Strathfoyle gym.

The court was told McClements had been previously convicted of GBH in 2009 in relation to the attack on Mr McCauley.

The father-of-one was 29 when he attended the barbecue at Chapel Road for a friend who was moving away from Northern Ireland.

He and two friends had left the house in the early hours of the morning when they were set-upon by a group of up to 15 people.

His family fought a long campaign to bring his killers to justice and even released a photograph of their son lying with a oxygen mask on his face and his partially shaven head exposing a huge stitched headwound.

“The police believe that if he is released on bail he may stop potential witnesses from coming forward and providing information to help in the murder investigation”, she said.

The court heard police objections to bail were based on fears McClements could interfere in the ongoing investigation and also on the threat faced by the defendant.

A defence solicitor said Mr McClements was on High Court bail for two years during the previous case and never breached his conditions. He was granted permission to travel through the Waterside area of the city only for certain purposes including for work but was to inform police of his route.