Belfast women charged over Ballymurphy stabbing

Two women have appeared in court over the stabbing of a man in west Belfast's Ballymurphy area on Saturday.

The 23-year-old man suffered stab wounds to his stomach at his home in Sliabh Dubh View just before 04:00 BST.

Elaine McNally, 32, of Eliza Street Close was accused of common assault, possessing an offensive weapon, threats to kill and witness intimidation.

Lynsey Irvine, 30, from New Barnsley Crescent is accused of grievous bodily harm with intent.

She is also charged with having an offensive weapon.

A PSNI officer told Belfast Magistrate's Court that the charges arose out of incidents following a party in the Ballymurphy area where the injured party lived.

The court heard that Ms McNally claimed the man had assaulted her and bitten her ear and when she went to his house she said she was going to burn it down "with the children in it".

The police witness said the accused had also told a potential witness in the case that she would break her legs and kill her.

Ms McNally's lawyer said she had apologised to police for the comments which she claimed were made in the heat of the moment.

The police officer said the attack on the man was a planned assault which took place in the middle of the night and he said Ms Irvine had had the knife.

Ms Irvine was granted bail, but Ms McNally was remanded in custody until 20 August after the police officer said it was feared she might interfere with witnesses.