A Co Derry man appeared in court in Coleraine yesterday charged in connection with the collision between a train and a car at a railway crossing near the Co Antrim village of Dunloy last Tuesday night.
Thomas Patrick McLaughlin (21), a plasterer from Carnanreagh Road, was charged with the attempted murder of the train driver, Paul Thompson, and of others.
A detective constable told Resident Magistrate Richard Wilson that when charged the defendant replied "definitely not guilty". The constable said he believed he could connect Mr McLaughlin to the charge and he asked for a remand to enable him to complete his inquiries.
The constable told the court Mr McLaughlin had been interviewed by the police about the incident on four occasions. He said that after the collision, Mr McLaughlin left the scene and went home where he was arrested by the police 14 hours later.
The constable said Mr McLaughlin had claimed that the car had not been working properly and that he had used a gradient leading down to the railway line in an attempt to push-start the vehicle but that two of the wheels then became lodged in the track.
The court was told police believed Mr McLaughlin left the scene and made no attempt to contact emergency services. Mr McLaughlin was remanded in custody to appear before the same court via a video link on May 23rd.