Court told Bishop thought intruder was armed

A 32-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged in connection with a break in at the home of the Bishop of Derry Dr. Seamus Hegarty.
Declan Devine of Bloomfield Park in Derry was charged with breaking into the Bishop’s house in the Buncrana Road in Derry on August 27.
The court was told that the thief stole the Bishop’s ring, his rosary beads, credit cards, his wallet, a holdall, and items of alcohol.
The court also heard that Dr. Hegarty woke up to see the man standing at his bedroom door.
The Bishop thought the man had a weapon and when the intruder asked for a way out he showed him one.
The Bishop stressed in his statement how upset and frightened he had been by the ordeal.
The defendant was released on his own bail of £400, he was ordered to observe a curfew, wear an electronic tag and not to enter the Buncrana Road and have no contact with the injured party.
He will appear again on September 23.