A Co Leitrim man appeared in court in Derry yesterday charged with abducting a two-year-old boy in the city on Wednesday.
Magistrate Barney McElholm said the incident was undoubtedly traumatic for the child and for his parents. "One wonders how someone can get so hopelessly drunk that he can confuse this child for his own child."
He ordered the defendant to stay out of Derry, abstain from alcohol, report three times each week to the police in Limavady and to submit to unannounced breathalyser tests by the police.
Patrick John Feely (36), a contract cleaner, who lives at Linenhall Street in Limavady, Co Derry, was released on his own bail of £1,000 plus one surety of £750 to appear in court again on January 24th.
A detective constable said Feeley grabbed the boy from the child's parents just before 5pm. "At that point three civilians intervened and got the child and gave him back to his parents. They then restrained the defendant until the police arrived. The child sustained bruising to the legs during the incident."