Disabled attack accused remanded

10.30.00am GMT Sat 1st Mar 2008

A man has appeared in court over an attack which left a physically disabled Belfast man fighting for his life.

David McCarroll, 19, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody, charged with the attempted murder of Ross McCartney.

The 21-year-old was attacked at his home on the Castlereagh Road on Friday. He managed to reach a nearby shop, where staff called for an ambulance. A defence lawyer said forensic evidence would play a big part in the case.

The accused, who is understood to be from east Belfast, was also charged with stealing a mobile phone and laptop computer. He was remanded in custody until 28 April.

Mr McCartney had been due to fly out to Spain on holiday with his mother, Shirley Morrow. Instead, Ms Morrow was at Belfast Magistrates Court to see the accused in the dock. Earlier, she said she did not understand why her son had been targeted and asked people to help the police investigate the attack.