A man who was arrested after a hard-left mob burst into a hotel to attack a National Party conference in Enniskillen has been charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and affray.
Daniel Comerforde (34) of Mic Uilliam Heights in Dublin, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a hammer with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, and with attempted grievous bodily harm and affray.
The 34-year-old man appeared at Omagh Magistrates’ Court by video link on Tuesday, where he was remanded in custody.
His solicitor, Sinn Féin MP, John Finucane, told the court he would be making an application for bail for Mr Comerforde at Dungannon Court on Friday.
Sources have told Gript that at least one member of the paramilitary organisation, the INLA, was amongst the mob who wore masks and scarves to conceal their identities as they tried to break into the conference room at the Lough Erne Hotel last Sunday. .
The far-left group were armed with hammers, and caused serious injury to some of those attending the conference, with four people being brought to hospital.
One young man suffered deep cuts to his hand from glass after being attacked and had to undergo surgery. In total, six people were injured in the attack.
However, some of those attending the Ard Fheis managed to corral a group of the attackers until the PSNI arrived.
The attack has been widely condemned on social media. Journalist, Éilís O’Hanlon was critical of those who made ‘excuses’ for “a violent attack on a political party holding a meeting.”
Good to see all the people who thought Twitter would become a less kind, more extreme place under Elon Musk proving themselves right by making pathetic excuses for a violent attack on a political party holding a meeting.
— Eilis O'Hanlon (@OHanlonEilis) November 14, 2022
The National Party has said that media attempts to portray the attack as an “altercation” were “grossly misleading”, and that the meeting had been “invaded with violent intent by people with hammers.”