Christopher McClean,18, bailed after he was charged with the manslaughter of Darren McBrearty

A TEENAGER has faced a court on Wednesday charged with manslaughter.

Christopher McClean, of Main Street, Gortin, Co Tyrone, is accused of the unlawful killing of Darren McBrearty.

The 28-year-old was attacked around 8 pm on Sunday in Omagh’s John Street near a licensed premises.

He was initially treated at a local hospital for serious head injuries.

However, Mr McBrearty was later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he died on Tuesday after his life support machine was switched off on the advice of doctors.

The 18-year-old accused appeared in the dock of Dungannon Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning sporting a black eye.

Police were called to the scene of the assault on Sunday evening.

McClean and two other men were arrested and taken into custody for questioning.

His two co-accused, aged 24 and 23, were released on bail on Tuesday pending further inquiries by detectives.

During interviews, McClean allegedly told detectives that he struck McBrearty with a single punch in “self defence”.

A detective, who connected the accused to the charges, objected to bail because of the possible risk of interference with witnesses, some of whom had yet to be interviewed.

However, despite police objections, McClean was released on bail by the district magistrate under strict conditions.

These included staying at an address outside Co Tyrone, refraining from alcohol, no contact with witnesses or his two accused, a curfew from 10 pm to 7 am, be electronically tagged, and banned from entering Omagh.

McClean was released on bail of £300 along with one surety of £500.

The case has been listed again for Wednesday, August 21.