A 41-year-old man who breached bail conditions imposed for allegedly harassing a female journalist in a series of foul-mouthed social media posts is back behind bars.

As previously reported by HTFP, Belfast Magistrates Court heard that Daniel Devlin had “developed a fixation” with the journalist leaving her “in a constant state of fear.”

Devlin, of Stewartstown Road, Dunmurry, has previously denied charges of stalking, harassment and improper use of a public communications network.

He had been granted bail but has now been returned to custody after five separate breaches of bail conditions and now faces further charges of harassment and persistent improper use of a communications network between 21 January and 15 February.

Belfast Magistrates Court

During the special hearing, Devlin insisted on speaking out while the details of the case were discussed until, after several warnings, the judge ordered him to be removed.

A prosecuting lawyer read out a number of the offensive posts in which he had claimed the journalist had leaked security details and tried to blame him.

One post read: “That little uppity c*** has a neck like a jockey’s b******s.  She tried to file papers on me that suggested I emailed her employer to say she leaked security detail.”

Another read: “This is Daniel Devlin getting called a stalker because I’m trying to expose the uppity c*** as a tragic c*** to leak security detail then try and blame shift to me.”

A police officer told the court: “The journalist has suffered very serious distress. Police have no faith whatsoever that the defendant will maintain any bail conditions.”

After Devlin spoke out again, District Judge John Meehan ordered him to be removed from the court but he continued to voice his annoyance and use obscenities as he was led away.

A defence solicitor urged the court to grant bail saying he and felt the defendant would be best-suited attending his GP rather than in custody.

But refusing Judge Meehan remarked: “The case papers are full of bail breaches and final warnings. There comes a point when the victims have to be put into the balance.”

Devlin will appear in court again by video-link on 15 March.